Park View Business and Enterprise School, a Teach First partner school in Birmingham, has been rated “outstanding” by Ofsted - the first school in the country to be graded outstanding under this year’s new framework.

Almost all students at the school are from minority ethnic groups and speak English as an additional language. The number of students known to be eligible for free school meals is much higher than the national average. Despite these challenges, the school’s overall GCSE performance has shown a strong upward trend over the last three years and the proportion of students gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics has been significantly above average for two consecutive years.

During this month’s Ofsted visit, inspectors observed 34 lessons taught by 30 teachers and met with students and teachers. More than 90 questionnaires were also submitted to Ofsted by parents, staff and students.

The overwhelming majority of parents responding to the questionnaire were very positive about their child’s progress at the school, with one noting: ‘I really couldn’t ask for a better school for my children to attend.’ Assistant Headteacher and Teach First Ambassador Lee Donaghy says that maintaining positive relationships with the families of pupils is crucial. “The community trusts the school to look after its pupils well and ensure their safety. We run parent education classes and a large number of staff are from the local community. We also work hard to ensure that the school reflects the values and ethos of parents and the community.”

Lee admits there is no magic formula to the school’s success, just hard work and good planning.  “We set high expectations that our pupils work hard and are challenged by their teachers. We demand outstanding teaching and learning to ensure all pupils make better than expected progress. And we track our data in a way that ensures underachievement is identified quickly and effectively remedied,” he says.

Six Teach First participants and ambassadors including Lee currently work at the school. “As a school we really value our partnership with Teach First.  We feel it is really helping us to contribute to closing the achievement gap, by ensuring a supply of outstanding teachers and role models for our young people.”