Ofsted
Following our inspection on 19 May 2026, Notley High School and Sixth Form was graded as follows:
Graded at the STRONG STANDARD in:
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Inclusion
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Leadership and Governance
Graded at the EXPECTED STANDARD in:
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Achievement
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Attendance and Behaviour
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Curriculum and Teaching
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Personal Development and Wellbeing
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Post-16 Provision
Safeguarding: Standards Met (grades are either Met or Not Met).
This represents a significant achievement for our school and reflects the hard work, commitment and ambition of our staff, students and wider community. It recognises the sustained improvement made since our previous inspection, when the school was judged to Require Improvement.
Leaders have taken highly successful action to rapidly and substantially improve this school.
The school is a happy, highly welcoming place to be.
Pupils enjoy learning and are achieving increasingly well.
Pupils at Notley High School are united in their view that their school has improved significantly in recent years.
Inclusion & Support (Strong Standard)
Leaders and staff at all levels are determined that every child thrives.
Leaders have established highly effective systems and a caring, personalised approach.
This has significantly improved the experiences of, and increased opportunities for, pupils, including those who are disadvantaged.
Staff skilfully support pupils in receipt of pupil premium funding.
Leadership & Governance
Leaders have taken clear, robust steps to improve each aspect.
Leaders measure the impact of their decisions, starting with the impact on disadvantaged pupils.
Staff are highly positive about working here.
The school is now over-subscribed in Years 7 and 8, and the sixth form is growing.
Curriculum & Teaching
Leaders have taken highly effective steps to improve the quality of the curriculum.
The curriculum is broad, carefully ordered and engaging.
Pupils regularly revisit prior learning so that they remember it.
Pupils communicate their ideas clearly and accurately, both in their written work, and when speaking about their learning.
Safety & Culture
Incidents of discrimination or bullying are very rare.
Pupils feel safe in school.
The school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding.
Pupils learn about the importance of diversity and equality.
Sixth Form
Students in the sixth form are highly positive about their experiences.
Students are increasingly taught very effectively in lessons.
They go onto a wide range of destinations, including universities.
