Ofsted, January 2024

Following an inspection earlier this year, Bishop Stopford’s School in Brick Lane, Enfield, has been praised for its high expectations, welcoming and supportive approach, and ambitious curriculum, as it continues to be rated a good school.

Bishop Stopford’s School was commended for creating a ‘nurturing and harmonious community based on equality’. The school’s vision is to provide an outstanding, inclusive and aspirational education for all its children. With a commitment to highly inclusive education and a belief that everyone can achieve beyond their expectations, its moto of ‘believe, strive, succeed’ is at the heart of everything the school does. This was noted in the report, with inspectors stating that leaders ‘make sure that pupils at the school are happy and safe’, and that they ‘show determination that pupils can flourish’. This ambition extends to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Within the report, inspectors also highlighted that ‘the school champions diversity’ and that ‘they have appointed both pupil and staff diversity ambassadors, who organise a range of events throughout the year’. It also emphasised that ‘pupils are proud to represent their school community’ and ‘sixth-form students are positive role models for younger pupils and provide support for their peers’.

Our full report is available via the link below.

SIAMS, March 2024

The purpose of SIAMS inspection is:

• to provide an evaluation of the impact of the school’s distinctively Christian vision for the governing body, multi-academy trust, the school, parent, diocese/district, Church of England Education Office, Methodist Church and wider public.
• to meet the requirements of section 48 of the Education Act 2005 for schools which have a religious character.
• to verify the outcome of the school’s self-evaluation.
• to make a significant contribution to the improvement and sustainability of church schools.

SIAMS inspection focusses on the impact that the Christian vision of the church school has on students and adults. This will involve looking at the school’s Christian vision, the provision the school makes because of this vision and how effective this provision is in enabling all students to flourish. Schools will become effective by means of a variety of strategies, approaches and styles which reflect their local context or church tradition. Inspectors should carefully diagnose how each church school has a positive impact on students and adults.

Following our inspection in March 2024, the report stated that:

The school’s vision is absolutely central to all its work; the quality of relationships in the school is excellent. Staff and students are courteous and kind to each other and support each other with care. Students are confident and articulate. They are proud of their school and willingly accept opportunities to lead and to influence school practices. Collective worship is carefully planned and imaginatively supports the school’s vision and values. It is rightly seen as important by all members of the school community. Students and adults who wish to practice their faith are given encouragement and ample opportunities to do so. A Christian group meets weekly and a room is set aside for prayer, which is used extensively by Muslim staff and students. Once more, this is testament to our harmonious community; grounded in equality for all.

Our full report is available via the link below.