We reproduce here with permission a piece from the Wirral Globe celebrating that Upton Hall School FCJ in Birkenhead, England, has been rated ‘outstanding’ following a recent Ofsted inspection. Congratulations!
Upton Hall School, a catholic girls’ grammar school with academy status, received an inspection in June this year with the school found to be ‘outstanding’ in all five categories in which it was judged.
Headteacher, Andrea Gaunt, said: “The framework on which we were inspected was more rigorous than ever before.
“Inspectors interviewed the head and the leadership team, subject leaders, pastoral leaders, governors, admin staff and support staff. They talked to pupils and sixth form students and collected hundreds of questionnaires from parents.
“In order for inspectors to make a judgement of ‘outstanding’, the same consistent message had to be given by everybody and a lot of evidence needed to be collected. In order for Upton to be judged as outstanding, there needed to be no single area for improvement. As you can imagine, this is very difficult to achieve.”
The school was originally founded as a girls’ convent school by Nuns of the Society of the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) in 1862 and counts TV presenter Sally Nugent as a former student.
Our school motto is ‘Age Quod Agis’ which translates as ‘Whatever you do, do it well’ and myself and the staff try and live our professional life like that.
Headteacher, Andrea Gaunt
“Our school motto is ‘Age Quod Agis’ which translates as ‘Whatever you do, do it well’ and myself and the staff try and live our professional life like that,” said Mrs Gaunt. “I’m really glad the staff have brought into this philosophy and I am unapologeticaly ambitious but it’s also the children’s responsibility to grab their opportunity with both hands.
“There are parts of the world where if you were a girl you wouldn’t get an education so you have a moral responsibility to make the most of that and then go and do great things.”
Praising the school in the report, Ofsted, said: “Upton Hall School is a school where pupils are inspired to succeed in all that they do. Leaders and staff have created an environment where pupils and students thrive.
“Pupils behave in an exemplary manner. They live up to leaders’ high expectations of how to conduct themselves and try their best. They show a kindness and gentleness, embodied by the school’s values, to their peers and their teachers.”
The school was the only one in the North West with a Sixth Form to have received an ‘outstanding’ Section 5 Ofsted inspection last academic year.
“We are all very proud of this fantastic achievement,” added Mrs Gaunt. “What makes me even happier is the achievement can be owned by our whole school community. We came together in the true spirit of excellence and companionship, and we exemplified Age Quod Agis.”
Photo: Upton Hall School headteacher Andrea Gaunt celebrates the school’s ‘outstanding’ status with students. Taken from the Wirral Globe.
