The Gilberd School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The school's key strength is its commitment to a well-rounded education. In addition to academic success, pupils gain the necessary skills to succeed in life through the thoughtful and wide-ranging promotion of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The personal development and welfare of pupils are central to the school's work. This results in highly confident, mature and polite young people. Behaviour around the school and in lessons is excellent.

The very broad curriculum prepares pupils exceptionally well, and in a variety of ways, for their adult lives, for example through excellently planned careers advic...e and guidance. The academic progress and attainment of pupils of different backgrounds and abilities across a wide range of subjects are consistently above average. The very high quality of teaching is one of the major contributors to pupils' outstanding outcomes.

Teachers demonstrate excellent knowledge of their subject and understanding of how to teach that knowledge. Teachers skilfully use assessment when planning for learning. Leaders prioritise mathematics and technology to meet the opportunities of the local labour market.

They give similar prominence to high-quality opportunities in the arts, giving all pupils opportunities to flourish. The headteacher has painstakingly presided over many years of incremental improvement. She has created the systems and structures that enable leaders and governors to have an accurate and deep understanding of all aspects of the school's work.

Over time, areas of weakness have been tackled one by one through a comprehensive performance management and training programme. Leaders recognise the need to provide more opportunities to develop extended writing, especially for boys, in subjects beyond English. Very nearly all parents and carers responding to Ofsted's online questionnaire, Parent View, say that their children are happy and safe at school.

Pupils and staff concur. Relationships between staff and pupils are very positive and morale is extremely high. Inspectors found a very happy school.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average-sized secondary school and has grown over recent years. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils known to be entitled to the pupil premium is below average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is below average, as is the proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan. A few pupils are educated in off-site alternative provision at the Colchester Institute. The school recently formed the Alpha Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) with Colchester County High School for Girls.

This is shortly being joined by Manningtree High School. The MAT is also due to open a free school soon to meet the growing number of pupils requiring secondary school places in north Colchester. The headteacher has been appointed as executive headteacher across both schools.