The Brooksbank School achieves Ofsted success
Celebrating a remarkable transformation together.
We are delighted to share that The Brooksbank School has achieved a significant milestone with its latest Ofsted inspection rating the school as Good in all areas. This represents a dramatic turnaround from the inadequate rating with serious safeguarding concerns received in February 2022.
This achievement demonstrates the real impact of Together Learning Trust's strategic approach to school improvement, combined with the dedication, hard work and support of our entire school community and professional partners. Our devotion to rapid, sustainable transformation has always put student achievement, character development, enrichment experience, wellness and vitality at its heart.
The success has been a real team effort – from lunchtime supervisors to student ambassadors, from staff putting in time to run activities to parents supporting the school, from hardworking admin staff to exceptional leaders and many more, with everyone pulling together in our commitment to excellence.
Swift action and strong leadership
Following the inadequate Ofsted rating in February 2022, educational leaders moved swiftly to address the fundamental issues. The Education Exchange – a collaborative group of senior leaders from six different trusts including Together Learning Trust – was immediately deployed to tackle the urgent safeguarding concerns and begin the transformation process.
Brooksbank officially joined Together Learning Trust in November 2022, with David Lord (CEO) leading the school. In March 2023, Darren Atkinson was appointed as Head of School, with Executive Headteacher Dave Hewitt adding to the team shortly after which catapulted transformational and substantiable change through exceptional leadership.
Excellence Everywhere
The previous Ofsted highlighted deep-seated problems around school culture, safeguarding and low aspirations. Together Learning Trust's initial intervention focused on getting the fundamental things right – via an absolute commitment to excellence, investing heavily in the environment, showing staff and students that leaders care and support them and implementing systems that ensured impeccable behaviour, and all procedures ensured students safety.
Academic success at KS4 and KS5 exams is the bedrock of enabling students to access prosperous future opportunities and careers. Trust Leaders astute financial management enables them to focus resources on Subject Directors who lead and develop all aspects of our ambitious curriculum and active teaching and learning cycles. Brooksbank’s staff worked tirelessly to implement a range of strategies that led to significant improvements. On top of consistent, exceptional teaching no stone is left unturned to support every pupil’s learning journey. From walking-talking mocks to targeted interventions, these efforts have transformed expectations for every student, moving from a culture of low aspirations to one where students aim high and achieve excellence.
It was also crucial to take an approach much broader than academic focus alone. Student led values work, an ambitious student leadership and volunteering programme, and an extensive offering of co-curricular opportunities allow all students to flourish, whatever their talents.
Delivering measurable impact
Together Learning Trust's systematic approach has delivered clear results that we are proud to celebrate:
Academic excellence: Record-breaking GCSE results in 2024, with the school now ranking in the top 3 non-selective schools in Calderdale for student progress – an amazing achievement reflecting the hard work of both students and staff
Curriculum transformation: Implementation of an ambitious curriculum focused on reading, literacy and comprehensive personal development, brought to
Behaviour and attendance: Sustained improvements creating calm, purposeful learning environments where students can thrive
Character development: Rich opportunities through sports, drama, volunteering and enrichment programmes have helped students discover and develop their individual strengths
Looking forward
The Brooksbank School now stands as proof of what can happen when you combine thoughtful strategy with passionate people who refuse to accept anything less than the best for young people.
And there’s no stopping here – the energy and buzz in school is palpable, and the upward journey continues. We can’t wait to see what’s next.
To read the Ofsted report in full click here.
Students celebrate the result alongside headteacher Darren Atkinson.