Inspection report

Builth Wells High School is Top of Class in Inspectors’ Report

Builth High School is jubilant after receiving the highest possible grades from education inspectors. In their recent report Builth is praised for being a “thriving, successful and happy school.” The report continues “Builth consistently promotes and achieves high standards in academic, pastoral and extracurricular activities and because of its very many significant strengths justifiably enjoys the total confidence of its community.”

Headteacher, Mrs. Shân Davies, said, “I am very pleased that the inspectors recognise the high quality of everything we do and not just our excellent exam results. I am delighted that they value as much as we do the major contribution we make to national educational standards through our promotion of self-discipline and respect. The very good standards of spiritual, moral, social and cultural growth outlined in the report stem from this self-discipline. It is no surprise then that the inspectors describe the pupils as ‘pleasant, confident, polite, courteous and respectful to one another and to adults’.”

Chair of Governors, Mr. Simon Fraser, stated that the inspectors had highlighted “the realistically high mutual expectations and levels of challenge that fully motivate pupils.” Mr. Fraser went on to say, “these would lead any visitor to concur with the inspectors’ view that ‘classrooms are calm and positive with highly qualified and experienced staff managing pupils carefully with patience and good humour’.”

Deputy Head, Mrs. Gillian Firth, was delighted with the inspectors’ observation that “the quality of teaching is a major strength of the school, which exposes pupils to a consistent experience of good and very good teaching.” She was pleased to note the report’s particular praise of the sixth form where the entire curriculum receives the top grade available. The report recognises that the school offers “an extensive range of AS and A2 courses and is piloting the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.”

Deputy Head, Mr. Colin Rees, noted that, in addition to an excellent academic record, the inspectors were particularly impressed by the range of cultural activities, including multicultural links with Europe, the USA and Australia, which are at the heart of the life of the school. He was also pleased with the report’s praise for Builth’s partnerships with primary schools, universities, arts organisations, industry and business and the local community, which make Builth a model community school.

Learning Support is praised for “the very good programmes provided, either in class with the help of Learning Support Assistants, or by withdrawal to the Learning Support Centre”. The school’s pastoral system is described as “very effective, playing an important role in maintaining the school as a community where hard work and mutual respect are valued”.

The report also comments on the ways in which “the culture and heritage of Wales is effectively developed through the curriculum and extra-curricular activities, the very successful school eisteddfod, a strong involvement with the Urdd and visits to Welsh Medium productions throughout Wales”.

The inspectors describe Builth as “a very well led, forward looking, busy and happy school with a pervasive culture of high expectations and a distinctive, positive ethos.” It is no wonder then, that Builth is a hugely popular and oversubscribed school. The inspectors’ report confirms the many reasons why parents choose Builth.

download the full report as a pdf file