Gordon’s School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The work of this outstanding school is built upon a culture of high expectations and care for the individual. Students of all abilities and backgrounds make rapid progress from their starting points.

The academic standards attained by students are very high. The proportion of students achieving five GCSE grades at A* to C, including English and mathematics is well above average. The quality of teaching is consistently good and often outstanding.

Students are very enthusiastic about their learning because of this. Regular homework is used very effectively to promote their progress. Across a range of subjects teachers plan lessons ...well to extend students' knowledge and prepare them for examinations.

Opportunities for teachers to share good ideas with each other and with other schools are at an early stage of development. Development of the personal skills of hard work, self-discipline and tolerance within strong Christian values and beliefs is a particular strength of this school. The result is that students are prepared exceptionally well to take their place in modern democratic Britain.

Students' behaviour both within lessons and at other times is impeccable. There is a harmonious atmosphere within which students work conscientiously and collaboratively. They are extremely proud of their school; its ethos and traditions are greatly respected by all.

The arrangements for keeping students safe and secure in the school are outstanding. They feel safe within a strong community and their sense of belonging is enhanced by regular participation in ceremony. The sixth form is outstanding.

Students make excellent progress and achieve high academic standards. They take advantage of a wide range of opportunities to develop leadership skills and the vast majority go on to secure places in higher education. The headteacher is ambitious for the school and its students, relentlessly pursuing the motto of 'understated excellence' in all areas.

He is supported strongly by senior leaders who share his vision for developing the school. The governing body knows the school very well. Governors are highly qualified, self-evaluative and effective in skilfully shaping the strategic direction of this heavily oversubscribed school.

Information about this school

Gordon's School converted to become an academy on 1 January 2013. When the predecessor school, of the same name, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be outstanding. The school is a non-selective, state boarding school which offers boarding and day places for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years.

The boarding facilities were judged to be outstanding when they were inspected by Ofsted in February 2013. The school is supported by The Gordon Foundation, an independent charitable trust established in1885. The school is slightly smaller than most secondary schools.

The proportion of students known to be eligible for the pupil premium (additional government funding for students known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority) is well below the national average. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is 13.7% which is below average.

Most students are of White British heritage. Small proportions of students are from Chinese, Indian or White and Asian ethnic backgrounds. The school offers alternative provision for a very small number of students in Years 10 and 11 within the Surrey Heath Area Partnership for Education, a local network of providers.

These include Collingwood College, Kings International College for Business and the Arts, and Tomlinscote School. The school has recently joined the Salesian School Teaching Alliance as a strategic partner. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum levels expected for students' attainment and progress.

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