Inspection Report

Independent Schools Inspectorate, Inspection Report on Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol.

QEH ‘OUTSTANDING’ SAYS INDEPENDENT REPORT

The Independent Schools Inspectorate 2009 report on QEH by independent inspectors describes it as providing “an outstanding educational experience for boys”.

The report stated: “QEH fully meets its aims and its ethos is strongly reflected in the attitudes and enthusiasm of pupils and staff.  Academic standards are high, so too is the personal development of pupils. Pupils learn enthusiastically and successfully.

It added: “The wide-ranging extra-curricular provision is first class, and is well supported by a high quality personal, social and health education programme for all year groups which prepares pupils well for university and the world beyond.”

The report also said: “Pupils at QEH are very well looked after. Pastoral care is outstanding. There are excellent links with parents and leadership and management is outstanding at all levels including the role played by the governors.” It also emphasised that: “Pupils come from a wide social background”.

The report gave particular praise to the culture at QEH. “The school exists as a close knit community where the standard of pastoral care is extremely high, which encourages pupils to reach their full potential. A feature of the school is the respect shown by boys for others and the co-operation amongst boys in helping each other to learn is a significant factor in the academic success,” it said.

“A tradition of mutual support exists between staff and pupils, and amongst pupils. Pupils value the care and patience of staff and enjoy the sense of belonging to a community. At the heart of this system are the deep knowledge of and care for pupils that the senior management and the school counsellor display.”

The report continues: “Pupils' learning and achievements inside the classroom as well as in games and extracurricular activities are outstanding. The school's stated aims of helping each boy to develop his potential are very well met.”

In the last three years for which national comparative data was available at the time of the inspection, GCSE results at QEH were far above the average for boys in maintained schools and A-level results well above the corresponding average. At both levels, results were above the average for boys in maintained selective schools.

The ISC report described the majority of lessons seen in the inspection as either good or outstanding with no lessons being unsatisfactory. It said that teachers demonstrated excellent subject knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught and were enthusiastic to share their passion for their subjects with their pupils.  “They know their pupils well, and identify those who need extra help and support,” it added.

As well as noting the “wide programme of extra-curricular activities which enrich the pupils' broad education,” the report even found praise for a traditionally less-popular item – school meals. “Food is of extremely high quality and meals are nutritious, varied and served in sensible proportions,” it said.

QEH Headmaster Stephen Holliday – who is himself described in the report as providing ‘outstanding leadership’ - said: “This independent report is a very strong endorsement of the qualities and achievements of QEH. We are delighted to receive such a clearly positive assessment.”

Chairman of Governors, Mr Nick Tyrrell, stated: “The school could not have received higher accolades from the Inspectors. I am proud to be associated with a school where the Headmaster is recognised for his outstanding qualities of leadership and where staff and pupils are seen to represent the aims and ethos so fully within the school as well as in the wider community.”

QEH has also recently received a different independent report on the Senior and Junior Schools, published by inspectors representing The Good Schools Guide (GSG).