The Brooksbank School is a school transformed as they receive an Ofsted ‘Good’ in all areas.
The Brooksbank School in Elland has just announced that following a recent Ofsted inspection, they have received a ‘Good’ rating in all areas, with effective safeguarding measures in place. Reflecting how dramatically and rapidly the school has bounced back from a previous inadequate grade in 2022, Ofsted now calls Brooksbank ‘a school transformed.’
Inspectors visited the school at the start of April and looked at the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision, rating all these as good. They noted that school has fostered a strong community built around core values of respect, empathy and determination, and that pupils are proud to be part of this ‘vibrant school’ and that pupils feel safe and are encouraged to aim high.
Inspectors also praised the school's ambitious curriculum, with clear learning endpoints established. They recognised that reading is central to the school's approach, with pupils encouraged to read widely and often. The report commended the school's approach to pupils' wider development, particularly in raising aspirations and character building. The report highlighted sustained improvements in both attendance and behaviour over the past two years, contributing to a calm and purposeful atmosphere throughout the school.
This achievement comes off the back of a record year of exam results, seeing students achieve the best results in the school’s history last August. It now ranks in the top 3 non-selective schools in Calderdale for student progress. Based on their mock results and assessment data, the cohort of Year 11 students currently sitting their GCSEs are on track to achieve even higher.
Head of School Darren Atkinson said: “It’s a really proud moment to reach this significant milestone on our journey. It tops off so many amazing Brooksbank moments for me, including becoming both National and Calderdale Champions in rugby this year, a sell out show, and the positive feedback we’ve had from the local community through our massive volunteering programme. It shows what happens when a community comes together and believes in each other. Elland deserves an amazing school and we are proud to offer the community exactly that.”
Executive Headteacher Dave Hewitt, Together Learning Trust, said: “We’re delighted the school now has an Ofsted report that confirms what we already knew: Brooksbank is an amazing school and there’s more to come. The transformation of the school has been a collective effort and owes its success to many people. The school and trust leaders, trustees and governors, the amazing staff and students, the supportive families and indeed the wider Elland community all played essential roles and should feel proud.”
The school’s turnaround was supported from February 2022 by school leaders from Education Exchange. It joined Together Learning Trust in June 2022, and appointed Darren Atkinson as Head of School in 2022.
You can view the full report on the school website: https://www.thebrooksbankschool.co.uk/reports