Inspection Report

Dear Parent

Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Report for Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools

I am pleased to be able to forward to you the final report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate which was compiled following their two visits to Hulme last term. Inspection can be an onerous experience, but I must say that I feel that the teams who visited us were incredibly professional; they were astute individuals who asked searching questions. They were led by a very experienced inspector who got to know Hulme extremely well: particularly our journey over the last five years and where we are going next.

The Governors and Principal are delighted with the inspectors’ report and are grateful to all the parents, pupils and teachers who have contributed to our success. The report clearly highlights the breadth and quality of our education, our outstanding Early Years provision, our emphasis on personal development, and the excellent support that our pastoral system provides. There are also reasonable recommendations for further improvement, which we will incorporate into our development plan.

OHGS has had a challenging 5 years, which has resulted in the successful restructuring of the original boys’ and girls’ schools under one umbrella. In getting to where we are today, there had to be a significant cultural and social shift. The change also necessitated implementation of new systems to enhance pastoral care and take teaching and learning to new levels. The future is exciting as we look forward to improving and consolidating the educational opportunities at Hulme, including the transitional development of our preparatory schools.

As highlighted in the report, despite our relatively broad intake of pupil abilities, our results are in line with expectations for maintained selective schools. We are particularly praised for our excellent extra-curricular programme and our ethos for developing our pupils beyond just academic achievement. Our Early Years provision also deserves a special mention having been judged to be outstanding in terms of both performance and facilities.

This report reaffirms OHGS as a beacon of excellence in the North West. We are immensely proud of our pupils and their achievements both academic and in other areas, be they sport, the arts, or in enhancing the wider society. Hulme is more than just a school; we are an extended family that nurtures and develops the talent of every single pupil, as many who have been through our doors will attest.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Dr Paul G Neeson

Principal