Interactive map reveals England's BEST Ofsted-rated secondary schools

Interactive map reveals England’s BEST secondary schools, rated by Ofsted – is YOURS included?

• Osted released statistics of its most recent round of school inspections 
• In the secondary sector, 557 out of 3,332 schools were rated ‘outstanding’  

Almost 600 secondary schools across England were rated outstanding by Ofsted inspectors according to newly-released data. 

MailOnline has produced a fully interactive map, which will show you the number of the top rated schools in your area. 

The figures show that there are a heavy concentration of impressive schools in London and the south East, with further major clusters around Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. 

The new data includes schools which were inspected between September and December 2022. 

Schools are graded on a four point scale which determines whether they are Outstanding; Good; Requires Improvement and Inadequate. 

According to Ofsted’s statistics, of the 3,332 secondary schools inspected by its officials, some 557 were outstanding with a further 2,122 rated as good. 

Around one in five secondary schools were classified as either requiring improvement or inadequate. 

This week’s release comes amid anger among teaching unions after it emerged a head teacher took her own life following an Ofsted inspection, which was set to downgrade her school’s rating.  

The new figures show that the percentage of outstanding schools has fallen from 21 per cent in August 2021to 17 per cent during the most recent inspection period. 

How many outstanding schools are near YOU? To use our intercative map, click on the ‘play’ icon to begin scrolling around. The arrow tab to the right of the map will pull out a list of all schools, and a search bar allowing you to find your local school. 

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Among the schools to receive top marks in the most recent Ofsted reports was St Angela’s Ursuline School in Upton Park, east London

Newport Girls’ High School Academy on the Welsh/English border was also rated Outstanding

The percentage of schools rated good has increased from 55 to 64 per cent, while the percentage of secondary schools requiring improvement has fallen from 17 per cent to 13. Those with the lowest rating, inadequate, have fallen from seven per cent by a single point. 

Headteachers have complained about the pressure placed upon them by the inspection regime, with some being forced to take sick leave because of the stress.  

According to Ofsted: ‘Since 2019, the proportion of schools judged outstanding at their most recent inspection has decreased from 20 per cent to 17 per cent, whereas the percentage  judged good has increased from 66 to 72 per cent. 

‘The gradual shift from outstanding to good is likely to be due to a combination of the education inspection framework raising the bar for outstanding schools.’ 

In total, 88 per cent of all school at primary and secondary level achieved a good or outstanding rating from Ofsted. 

St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School in North Finchley also received top marks

Aylesbury Grammar School was also praised by Ofsted following its inspection in late 2022

However, the education watchdog has faced significant criticism following the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry. 

Teaching unions have called for a suspension of further inspections after Ms Perry, headteacher of Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her own life in January after her school received an inadequate rating. 

Inspectors visited the school between November 15 and 16 2022, 13 years after issuing an ‘outstanding’ grade. 

Ofsted officials described the leadership and management at the school as ‘inadequate’. 

An Ofsted inspection of Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, which found leadership and management at the previously outstanding school as inadequate. Following the report, the school’s head teacher, Ruth Perry, took her own life

They heavily criticised the ‘safeguarding’ arrangements at the school, which show a lack of ‘leadership or oversight’ posing ‘potential risks to pupils’.  

CLICK TO READ MORE: Head teacher ‘takes her own life after inadequate Ofsted inspection ‘

Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman has acknowledged the desire to reform the system. However, she warned halting inspections would not be in the best interests of children. 

Ms Spielman described Ms Perry’s death as ‘a tragedy’. 

She said: ‘The sad news about Ruth has led to an understandable outpouring of grief and anger from many people in education. There have been suggestions about refusing to co-operate with inspections, and union calls to halt them entirely.

‘I don’t believe that stopping or preventing inspections would be in children’s best interests. Our aim is to raise standards so that all children get a great education. It is an aim we share with every teacher in every school.

‘Inspection plays an important part. Among other things, it looks at what children are being taught, assesses how well behaviour is being taught and managed, and checks that teachers know what to do if children are being abused or harmed.

‘We help parents understand how their child’s school is doing and we help schools understand their strengths and areas for improvement. It’s important for that work to continue.’

Ms Spielman defended the use of the graded assessment scale as ‘a simple and accessible summary of a school’s strengths and weaknesses’. 

She said any changes would require the agreement of both parents and the government.   

The National Association of Head Teachers described the decision to continue with testing school capabilities as a ‘terrible mistake’. 

As of December 31, 2022, Ofsted inspectors had rated 21,721 education establishment. Of them, 3,651 were rated ‘outstanding’, 15,548 ‘good’, while 1,855 ‘require improvement’, a further 667 were rated as ‘inadequate’.  

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