Bishop Luffa School in Chichester given 'outstanding' rating by Ofsted

Ofsted inspectors visited the school in December last year and have graded the school in Westgate as ‘Outstanding’ - meaning it keeps the same rating it was awarded after its previous inspection in 2008.

Head Teacher Austen Hindman said: “It is important for our community that we have a report that reflects the school as it is now. We are very pleased that the inspection team saw how inclusive we are and that we are living out our school motto: “always our best because everyone matters”.

The inspection report says that ‘this is a school where you can be yourself and have your individual gifts and talents celebrated’.

Mr Hindman said: "The report also talks about “the school’s strong Christian values”. Entry to Bishop Luffa School is based on church attendance: you don’t need to buy a house on a certain road or pass an exam to get in. Churches are open to everyone and close to everyone.”

Ofsted also praised the impact of the Sixth Form on the ethos of the school: “The school buzzes with activity at lunchtimes as pupils enjoy social time together and participate in the vast array of clubs and societies. Many of these are organised by sixth-form students, who play a remarkably important role in the school. Beyond their academic studies, sixth formers lead other pupils in the excellent contribution the school makes to charities and the local community.”

Head of Sixth Form, Jamie Saunders, said: “Bishop Luffa Sixth Formers are leaders within the school. This responsibility helps our students to grow in confidence and is one of the main reasons why they go on to study at top universities and pursue rewarding careers.

“Our Sixth Form is open to any student who meets the academic qualifications. We have a large number of students from other schools join us in Year 12 and thrive at Bishop Luffa.’

The full Ofsted report can be found at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/