Map shows every 'outstanding' secondary school in England - see how yours ranks

05 May 2023 , 10:54

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A student raises her hand in a lesson at a secondary school (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

One in six secondary schools in the UK is rated as "outstanding" by Ofsted - but many are facing a fresh inspection as the watchdog works to update grades.

Only around 17 per cent of the 551 "outstanding" schools have been given Ofsted's highest rating since June 2021 - with some handed their grade up to 16 years ago.

"Outstanding" primary and secondary schools in England were exempt from routine inspection between 2012 and 2020. Visits to schools from Ofsted inspectors were then paused for 18 months during the pandemic, with the watchdog now working to clear the backlog.

But nevertheless 95 secondary schools have been classed as "outstanding" since June 2021 and these, including the other proportion, have been gathered by Mirror data journalists and put on an interactive map.

You can use the handy widget to see which schools have been rated outstanding in your area - both since the pandemic and before then.

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Since routine inspections have resumed, Ofsted says it has so far completed graded inspections of 739 formerly exempt primary and secondary schools. Of those, 134 have remained “outstanding”.

Previously exempt schools that have gone longest without inspection have been prioritised, an average of 13 years.

Ofsted says that means they are not “typical of all exempt schools, and the pattern of inspection outcomes may change later”.

Ruth Perry's family said she took her own life in January before the publication of an inspection report (Brighter Futures for Children)

Ofsted expects to have completed inspections of all previously exempt outstanding schools by the end of July 2025.

But while the work continues, Ofsted has announced it is reviewing its approach to inspecting schools following an outcry over the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Her family said she took her own life in January before the publication of an inspection report at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, which downgraded her school from “outstanding” to “inadequate”.

In the wake of the tragedy Ofsted has faced calls to scrap its one-word ranking system which grades schools as either “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement” or “inadequate”.

Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said she recognises that “distilling all that a school is and does into a single word makes some in the sector uncomfortable”. But she added that the current grading system “showcases good practice”, uncovers “significant issues” at schools, and is “useful” for parents making a decision on which school to send their children.

Bradley Jolly