Parkstone Grammar School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Under the headteacher's calm, authoritative and exceptionally effective leadership, the school has improved rapidly since the previous inspection. Leadership at all levels is very strong. Governors, senior leaders, middle leaders and other staff work harmoniously together to provide high-quality education for pupils.

Pupils make remarkable progress by the time they take their GCSEs in Year 11. This is sustained in the sixth form. By the time they leave school, pupils have attained consistently at the highest levels and are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their education or employment.

Disadvantaged pupils make except...ional progress during their time at the school. Their rates of progress are much higher than other pupils nationally with the same starting points. School leaders make very good use of targeted training to develop teachers' professional knowledge and skills.

As a result, teaching continues to improve. Teachers are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They inspire and sustain a love of learning in their pupils.

Teachers have an unswerving faith in the ability of their pupils to succeed and give their time unselfishly to ensure that this happens. Pupils are confident and articulate learners. They take great pride in their work and are determined to succeed.

Pupils' behaviour is impeccable and their positive attitudes to learning are exemplary. They are hungry to learn and attendance rates are high, including in the sixth form. The sixth form is outstanding.

Students follow very well developed 16 to 19 study programmes. Systems to track and monitor their progress have been transformed since the previous inspection. Disadvantaged students prosper in the sixth form and in recent years all have gone on to university.

Systems to communicate information to parents about their children's progress need further refinement.

Information about this school

Parkstone Grammar School is a large selective school for girls in Poole. It has a much higher proportion of most able pupils than the national average and lower proportions of pupils who are disadvantaged, who have special educational needs and/or disabilities or who speak English as an additional language.

The school does not meet requirements on the publication of information about its accessibility plan on its website. The school does not comply with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish about contact details, the special educational needs report and equality objectives. The school uses one alternative provider, the Quay School.

Some subjects in the sixth form are taught jointly with a neighbouring school. A small number of post-16 students also attend A-level courses at that school. The school meets the current government floor standards at key stage 4.