Celebrations as secondary school keeps ‘good’ Ofsted rating

Hampstead School, in Westbere Road, South Hampstead, has been rated ‘good’ across all areas following a visit from Ofsted.

Inspectors found pupils at the school benefit “from a welcoming and inclusive ethos”.

Leaders have “established a calm and purposeful learning environment where pupils are encouraged to ‘think big, work hard and be kind’,” they wrote.

They also said: “Diversity is celebrated and unkind or discriminatory behaviour is not tolerated.”

Following a previous report in 2021 outlining unruly pupil behaviour, the inspection said that leaders now have “high expectations” while realising that “some pupils need support to help them to behave well”.

Head of Hampstead School, Matthew Sadler, and students by South Building (Image: Hampstead School)

The report added: “Very clear behaviour systems are understood well by pupils and applied consistently by staff.

“This means that learning is rarely disrupted by poor behaviour.

“Corridors and social spaces are calm and orderly. The number of suspensions has decreased significantly because of the efforts of leaders and staff to improve behaviour.”

The report also praised the “ambitious and broad” curriculum and lessons taught by teachers with “strong subject knowledge”.

The school did not achieve the highest ‘outstanding’ rating, inspectors said, as “sometimes, teachers do not select the most appropriate teaching task when delivering new content or checking pupils’ understanding” which leads to “disengagement” for pupils.

Older pupils also do not “take advantage” of a wide range of enrichment opportunities, inspectors said.

The mixed comprehensive school has 1,319 pupils. Former students include novelist Zadie Smith and ex-England footballer Rachel Yankey.

Head of Hampstead School, Matthew Sadler, standing in the grounds (Image: Hampstead School)

Matthew Sadler, who has been headteacher since September 2020, said: “This report captures some long-held strengths of the school and I would like to thank every member of our community for their support over the past three years.

“We are very excited about continuing together to build upon all of the school’s ‘good’ points recognised in this inspection.”

Jada Cupid, a 17-year-old pupil who has been offered a place to study law at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, said: “I am proud to say that I belong to a community of such inclusivity, but also of kindness, where I feel wholly embraced by both the students and teachers alike.”

Hampstead School students standing by the all weather sports pitch (Image: Hampstead School)

Cllr Marcus Boyland, Camden’s lead member for best start for children and families offered his “huge congratulations to everyone”.

He added: “I’m particularly pleased to see that, as well as educational strengths, the school’s strong pastoral care has been recognised. Well done to the head, school staff and governors.”