Chiswick School receives a glowing report from Ofsted

Image: Chiswick School students with teacher Laura Ellener celkebrating their latest OFSTEAD report

The school provides an “exceptional level of care and support”

Chiswick School has received a glowing report from Ofsted which praises the “exceptional level of care and support” provided to students, and the “curiosity and enthusiasm” shown by students in lessons.

Inspectors found that students at Chiswick School “achieve well, are kept safe and are thoroughly prepared for their next steps.” Sixth form students and older pupils acknowledged the school’s transformation, expressing their trust in teachers and valuing them as “highly positive role models.”

The report highlighted the “wealth of opportunities” available to students, including music, sport, drama, art, science, and politics, as well the standards set for learning.

The school’s curriculum was described as “meticulously designed,” ensuring that students build strong foundations in their learning and achieve highly across a broad range of subjects.

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive exceptional support, and literacy is a key focus, with inspectors noting that “all pupils gain the accuracy, fluency and confidence in reading they need to access the full curriculum.”

Image: Chiswick School production of Alice

Head teacher Laura Ellener “happy that the efforts of the school community have been recognised”

The report also noted the emphasis at Chiswick School on behaviour: “pupils are expected to behave well and engage positively in their learning, which they do.”

“I am happy that the efforts of the school community have been recognised,” said head teacher Laura Ellener.

“The numbers of applications to the school demonstrate that Chiswick School has become a desirable destination at both Year 7 and Year 12. I am delighted that Ofsted recognised the strong academic outcomes and the wider offer from the school which we believe is key to ensuring our students are happy and prepared for a wonderful adult life”.

Personal development is a cornerstone of the school’s ethos, with OFSTED acknowledging that “the school has extremely high expectations for pupils’ behaviour and conduct, applied consistently.” Relationships between staff and students were described as “warm and respectful,” fostering a positive learning environment.

The report also praised the school’s approach to character development, preparing students to be “responsible, respectful, and active citizens.” Initiatives such as the sixth form ‘give back hour,’ where students contribute to their school and local community, were commended.

The dedication of Chiswick School’s staff was also praised, with the report highlighting their subject expertise and ability to inspire students. Inspectors observed that “teachers design tasks that effectively enable pupils to practise and apply new knowledge,” ensuring deep understanding and strong academic outcomes.

The OFSTED inspection, which took place in January, did not give Chiswick School a new grading. The previous graded inspection in January 2020 pronounced the school to be ‘Good with Outstanding Personal Development’.

The independent inspectors often visit schools for ungraded inspections in between graded ones, and as the recent inspection highlighted significant improvement in all areas since their last visit, they will be returning to carry out a full inspection to allow the school to showcase all areas.

The next grade up, that the school no doubt hopes one day to achieve, is ‘outstanding’.

You can read the full OFSTED reports here: 2025 Ofsted Report | 2020 Ofsted Report

Image: Members of the Performing Arts choir at Chiswick School singing carols at Chiswick House at Christmas

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