Dallam School judged as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted
Thursday 25th February 2010
Dallam School, just off the M6 in Cumbria, is the latest state boarding school to be judged Outstanding in its boarding inspection. "Boarding pupils feel safe at the school and are fully supportive of one another. The strong sense of community and comradeship amongst them is viewed as a particular strength of the school." Inspectors reported that the new accommodation was outstanding and that "throughout the inspection, boarders and staff were observed mixing together and actively enjoying each other’s company. Relationships were observed as being outstanding, with a warm, friendly, relaxed atmosphere prevailing throughout the inspection."
The boarding inspection was integrated with a full educational inspection, which also gave an outstanding judgement. Overall effectiveness, capacity to improve, outcomes for students, teaching, curriculum and care, and leadership and management were all deemed outstanding by inspectors. The school was inspected under the new framework introduced in September which is more rigorous and broader in scope than previous inspections. New judgements, such as community cohesion, were also outstanding, perhaps not surprisingly given Dallam's commitment to community education and its international ethos as a specialist language college.
Headteacher, Steve Holdup said, "We knew it would go well because our examination results have been so good recently. But it was great that inspectors recognised the excellent relationships, the exciting curriculum, the cultural and sporting life of the school and the quality of care that make Dallam so special. Staff and students at Dallam are brilliant, and this is a wonderful way for us to celebrate both the completion of our £12m building programme and the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the school."
The full inspection report is available from www.dallam.eu or from www.ofsted.gov.uk
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