Dr Mark Fenton, Chief Master of King Edward’s School, Birmingham

King Edward's School rated 'excellent'

The ISI was impressed by the pupils' achievements and personal development

Posted by Hannah Vickers | June 22, 2017 | School life

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King Edward’s School, Birmingham has received the highest possible rating of ‘excellent’ in all areas in its recent inspection from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

The Education Quality Inspection, which took place in May 2017, assessed the school on two factors: the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements and the quality of pupils’ personal development. The inspection report, published this month, rated the school as excellent in both areas, praising the “consistently exceptional” examination results and the “harmonious and respectful” relationships between pupils.

Pupils were commended on their “outstanding learning attitudes” and found to “have gained a strong awareness of their individual strengths, an understated confidence and an inspiring humility” by the time they left the school.

The inspectors also observed “excellent relationships, based on mutual trust and high expectations” between pupils and their teachers and stated that “the scholarship of teaching” underpinned pupils’ knowledge and understanding in all curriculum areas.

Being part of a city as multicultural as Birmingham, I am also pleased that the inspectors recognised the strength of the school’s diversity in creating an environment that fosters understanding and respect - Dr Mark Fenton, Chief Master of King Edward’s School

Dr Mark Fenton, Chief Master of King Edward’s School, said: “Having started at King Edward’s in September last year, I knew then that I had joined a truly exceptional school and I am delighted that the ISI report recognises the outstanding education we provide.

“The overwhelmingly positive feedback provided in the report is testament to the hard work and commitment of the whole school community: staff, governors, pupils and parents. I am particularly proud of our pupils, who thoroughly impressed the inspectors during their visit. Being part of a city as multicultural as Birmingham, I am also pleased that the inspectors recognised the strength of the school’s diversity in creating an environment that fosters understanding and respect.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be at the helm of this great school and to be leading it through the next chapter of its history.”

King Edward’s School is one of the leading independent schools in the UK. It has received national recognition for its results in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, being awarded The Sunday Times IB School of the Year 2015-16 and the IB Boys’ School of the Year 2015, and for its outreach work with junior schools, winning the TES Best Independent-Maintained School Collaboration in 2015.