A Christian school, which was downgraded by Ofsted following a controversial ‘British values’ inspection, has achieved the best A Level results of any school in its area.
Grindon Hall Christian School topped the Sunderland league table with an average score of 225 points per A Level taken, the equivalent of a grade B.
Students taking GCSEs at Grindon Hall also performed well: 68 per cent achieved at least five A* – C grades including English and Maths, well above the national average of 53.4 per cent.
Worst grading
The school’s principal Chris Gray said he is “delighted that the hard work of our students and staff has been rewarded yet again with these excellent results”.
The league table results came despite Ofsted saying the school’s performance is “inadequate” and giving it the worst possible grading, following a hostile inspection in November.
In a statement on the school’s website, Mr Gray said the report “defies all common sense and logic”.
Absolute travesty
And parents reacted with shock and disbelief to the report, which claimed that there was evidence of racism, and homophobic language and bullying.
They signed a letter to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, describing the report as an “absolute travesty”.
Mr Gray has already formally complained to Ofsted about the inappropriate nature of questions asked by inspectors.
Playing politics
He said, “several parents complained to me about what they saw as intrusive and deeply personal questioning of their children”.
Children were asked if they knew what lesbians “did” and if their friends felt trapped in the “wrong body”.
Mr Gray wrote on the school’s website: “Playing politics with the new regulations on ‘British values’ is not acceptable and does little to help our children prepare for life or achieve good exam results.”
Strong support
Parents, pupils and teachers at a Christian school in Durham have also voiced their strong support for their school, which Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has pledged to close.
Alison Pearson, a lesbian herself, was quick to defend The Durham Free School after claims of homophobic bullying by schools’ regulator Ofsted.
Alison said that her daughter Amy was victimised at a previous school because of her mother’s sexuality but not at The Durham Free School.
Upset
She said: “Amy’s doing very well – she loves it. She’s upset because she doesn’t want to move schools again.”
Her defence of the school comes after a report by Ofsted claiming that leaders at the school tolerated a homophobic culture.