Ofsted Report

The school was last inspected in March 2008 and the inspection team found that:

This is a good school. It rightly prides itself on the quality of support it provides its pupils. As one parent said ‘I have nothing but praise for the level of education my daughter receives from the City of Portsmouth Girls’ School.’

The headteacher values her staff and sets clear expectations of them, with challenging targets for girls’ attainment.

The headteacher and senior leaders are deeply ambitious for the school.

Teaching and learning in Years 7 to 11 are good.

The curriculum is good and meets pupils’ needs and interests.

The school is highly successful in promoting pupils’ personal development and well-being and in the care, guidance and support it provides.

Participation in the community is outstanding. Girls make a real and valuable contribution to their school.

Pupils enjoy school, feel safe in school and instances of bullying are rare.

Pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good with social and cultural development being particularly strong.

Participation in the community is outstanding. Girls make a real and valuable contribution to their school.

Pupils’ levels of enjoyment and motivation are high because there is mutual respect between teachers and pupils. Working relationships are warm and productive.

The pastoral system is outstanding. There are very good systems for supporting pupils and ensuring their welfare.

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History of development and recognition.

In the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools published in February 2000, Chris Woodhead identified this school as being one of eighty secondary schools who have received outstanding inspection reports which show them to be providing a good quality of education and achieving high standards.

The school achieved Beacon status in the year 2000. These are: 'schools which have been identified as amongst the best performing in the country and represent examples of practice which are to be brought to the attention of the rest of the education service with a view to sharing that practice with others'.

As an endorsement of our work in Initial Teacher Training the school was awarded 'Training School' status in May 2001.

The school has had it's Training School status reendorsed in 2004 and retains it currently. A recent (May 2008) external review described it's work as 'exemplory'. The Training School now runs courses for trainee teachers, teaching assistants, newly qualified teachers, aspiring leaders as well as being the Local Authority's venue for all it's Governor training.

In Autumn 2002 the school bid to become one of a reduced number of 'Leading Edge Schools' that would replace Beacon Schools nationally. 'Leading Edge' status was awarded in July 2003.

We have retained our Leading Edge status working in partnership particularly with Milton Cross and Mayfield schools. Our focus has been a 'Student Voice' especially involving pupils in having a say in the running of the school, it's environment and the most effective ways for them to learn. We have also led the development of staff coaching programmes in the City. This work was described by our external evaluator as of 'national importance' in our June 2008 annual review.

During the academic year 2003/4 the school made a submission to be considered for the Basic Skills Agency's Quality Mark for Secondary Schools. This provides a framework for schools to improve what they are doing in terms of the basic skills or reading, writing, spelling and maths. The school was awarded the Quality Mark in September 2004.

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