Ofsted
Aureus School is delighted to announce that, following a recent Ofsted inspection, the school has been awarded a “Good” rating across all four inspection categories: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management. This is a significant milestone for the Didcot comprehensive school, which opened in 2017 as part of the GLF Trust and was formally graded “Requires Improvement” in 2022.
The critical impact of the Headteacher, Kirsty Rogers who joined the school in September 2023 is recognised by the Ofsted team who cite how ‘Aureus School has changed for the better’ and further confirm that ‘leaders and staff share the same high ambitions for pupils, who understand what is expected of them’. The report highlights how ‘classrooms are calm and purposeful’ and how the school has adopted a ‘clear and focussed approach and consistent routines’ which has ensured ‘standards have risen’. Inspectors are clear that pupils make ‘strong progress’ and that they therefore successfully and positively move to further education, employment and training at the end of Year 11. Alongside academic provision, Ofsted also recognises the work of the school in providing a holistic education for its pupils, through a ‘rich range of experiences beyond the classroom that support their cultural and social development’.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement, which reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, students and their families,” said Kirsty Rogers. “Our journey has been guided by a commitment to inclusive education, ensuring that all students are supported to achieve greatness. I am proud of how our community has embraced this challenge with resilience and determination. The Ofsted report confirms that we’re on the right path, and we’re excited to continue building on this strong foundation.”
“I would like to thank the Aureus team of teaching and associate staff who have worked tirelessly to transform the school; I am delighted this report recognised their hard work and commitment. I would also like to thank the students who are a privilege to work with, and who make our school such a vibrant place to be. They too have experienced considerable change, and I am very proud that they have risen to the challenge.”
“An additional thank you goes out to our families, members of our School’s Standards Board, and to GLF Schools including the School’s Support Team. Together, we make a fantastic Aureus Family, which has a powerful and positive impact on our students' education.”
Aureus School is the only co-educational comprehensive school in Didcot and educates students aged 11-16. Aureus opened in 2017 as part of GLF Schools Multi Academy Trust. Aureus School provides modern, purpose-built facilities on a spacious campus within Great Western Park. With ample outdoor space, the school is designed to support an engaging and well-rounded educational experience for students in the local community.
Since opening, the school has been through significant change and this Ofsted report recognises that students and families have been extremely positive about the improvements made since the new leadership of the school.
Louise Sinfield, chair of the School’s Standards Board (SSB) comments "I am ecstatic for Ms. Rogers and the team at Aureus School for the recent Ofsted outcome. This truly demonstrates the impact of the strong leadership and focus on improving standards for all students at Aureus. I have seen the determination at Aureus since the last inspection and can say on behalf of the SSB how proud we all are and excited to support future plans."
Julian Drinkall, CEO of GLF Schools added, “I am delighted that the recent Ofsted inspection recognises the rapid improvement that Aureus School has made since July 2023, and am grateful to the whole Aureus community for their unrelenting efforts to achieve such a positive impact in such a short space of time. All colleagues at GLF Schools are dedicated to providing the best possible educational outcomes for all students and Kirsty and the staff team continue to work tirelessly to achieve this at Aureus.”
With the momentum of this achievement, Aureus School remains committed to advancing academic excellence, building character, and cultivating a welcoming environment for all. The school community eagerly anticipates the continued positive impact of its dedicated leadership team and staff.
Please click on the link below to read our current Ofsted Report.
