Ofsted Report
The school had a full Ofsted Inspection on Tuesday 21st February and Wednesday 22nd February 2023. The purpose of a section 5 inspection is to make judgements against key areas of the school including: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management and Overall Effectiveness.
The report highlights many positive areas and recognises improvements that are being made across the school since we became The Bay all-through school in September 2018. We are extremely proud to inform you that His Majesty’s Inspectors’ overall judgement is that we are officially rated as a GOOD school.
The summary evaluation of the inspection is as follows:
Overall effectiveness Good
The quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Good
Personal Development Good
Leadership and Management Good
Early Years Provision Good
Click here to read the full copy of the Ofsted Report
We are delighted that the hard work undertaken by The Bay staff and community has been recognised, including comments regarding our deliberate support of pupils’ personal development, a common goal of sustaining and improving standards in the school, pupils studying a suitably broad range of subjects and that pupils with SEND are catered for extremely well. The report itself is detailed and highlights many elements of effective provision at The Bay.
This is a fantastic achievement for everyone in our school community and is something to be hugely proud of. Please take the time to read the inspection report in full as it evidences that The Bay is not only a good school, but one that continuously strives to Believe, Inspire and Excel.
It is an excellent achievement and report, particularly at a time when the benchmark for ‘Good’ is at the highest level it has ever been. The Ofsted inspection was thorough, robust and professionally rigorous. The leadership team were open and transparent around all aspects of our school and were able to share much evidence to support the inspection process.
As a school, we will endeavour to address those areas identified for further improvement. The governing board will continue to work with, and alongside, the school leaders, using the report to help develop strategic priorities. We know that with your support in the work we will be doing together, The Bay Church of England School will continue to go from strength to strength.
Finally, we would like to thank all those involved in the inspection process, especially the staff, Governors, students and parents who shone during the inspection and continue to make a positive contribution to school life.
Click here to read the letter to parents and carers from
Duncan Mills, Executive Headteacher
Pete Higgin, Chair of Governing Board
Emma Bowden, Headteacher (Secondary)
Nina Lawrence, Head of School (Primary)
Duncan Mills, Executive Headteacher said
We are delighted with our first Ofsted inspection report as an all-through school. We believe the inspectors fully understood The Bay and recognised our strengths, including our drive for continuous improvement.
They saw that The Bay is a happy and inclusive all-through school, where leaders have successfully established an atmosphere of trust amongst staff. This is enabling everyone to work towards a common goal of sustaining and improving standards in the school.
There have been significant changes at the school, since extending its age range in 2018, and to the Ofsted framework during this time. Staff and governors are thrilled with the report and all agree that it is a true reflection of the efforts of the whole community.
Pete Higgin, Chair of Governing Board said
This judgement is testament to the work of the whole staff team.
Spearheaded by our committed and dedicated leadership team, with the support of the local authority, the governing board congratulates all involved in the school community: pupils, staff, parents and carers.
We thank them for the faith they have shown. The school has changed immeasurably in the last five years and therefore, against the backdrop of immense challenge, this result is truly, no mean feat.
The governing board look forward to building on this success and will continue to ensure the school is the best it can be in service of the community of Sandown and the Isle of Wight.
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for education, said the Isle of Wight Council was thrilled by the outcome of the Ofsted inspection.
The predecessor school, Sandown Bay Academy, had been judged inadequate twice by Ofsted.
The governing body and Duncan Mills showed great courage in taking on such a challenge. It shows what can be achieved when high quality leaders drive forward improvement, supported by expert school improvement professionals from the local authority.
