Belle Vue Girls’ Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school because school leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and are ensuring that the majority of teaching is good or better. It is not outstanding because a minority of lessons remain in which teaching is satisfactory.

The sixth form is satisfactory. Effective leadership is having a positive impact on the quality of teaching which is satisfactory and improving. The guidance provided to students on their choice of courses is also improving.

There is a rising trend in both GCSE and Advanced level examination results. The progress made by the majority of students is good. That made by those in the sixth form is satisfactory and rising.
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School leaders are successfully improving the quality of teaching through the effective management of teachers' performance, linked to focused professional development. As a result, most teaching is good or better and none is inadequate. This gives the school's mission of 'educating the woman of tomorrow' real substance.

Students greatly enjoy school and are very keen to learn. As a result their behaviour is outstanding. Poor behaviour is unusual and when it occurs it is dealt with effectively.

Students say they feel safe and that bullying is rare, and when it happens, it is tackled robustly. The leadership provided by senior leaders is driving improvement. Middle leaders are developing in confidence, but have further to go in taking responsibility for improvement.

Governance is strong and directly engaged in monitoring performance.

Information about the school

Belle Vue is a larger than average-sized girls' secondary school. Almost all students are from minority ethnic backgrounds, mainly of Pakistani heritage.

The proportion who speak English as an additional language is very high. The proportion of students supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is well above that found nationally. A well above-average proportion of students are known to be eligible for free school meals.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. It is designated as a specialist academy for languages and science with mathematics and it converted to academy status in April 2012. The school has Investors in People status and has the International Schools Award and Healthy Schools status.