‘We are absolutely delighted’- Broughton High School receives faultless Ofsted report

A secondary school in Preston has been recognised as one of the very best in the country according to a new Ofsted report published today.

Broughton High School on Woodplumpton Lane was inspected by the educational watchdog on October 20 2026.

This was the school’s first inspection under the new Ofsted framework which you can read more about here but it in summary means

Before this inspection, Broughton High School, currently home to 104 pupils, had been considered an ‘outstanding’ school since 2012.

How was Broughton High School graded this time around?

All categories at the school were given the highest rating that now can be given.

The Ofsted report grades are:

• Achievement: Exceptional (blue)
• Attendance and behaviour: Exceptional (blue)
• Curriculum and teaching: Exceptional (blue)
• Inclusion*: Exceptional (blue)
• Leadership and governance: Exceptional (blue)
• Personal development and wellbeing: Exceptional (blue)

*Inclusion is a new category

This means that Broughton High School is only the second ever school within a 10-mile radius of Preston to have been given an ‘exceptional’ rating for all categories, the other being Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School in June.

The new ‘exceptional’ category raises standards even further than the original ‘outstanding’ rating.

As of August 2026, only 11 schools across the UK had received an ‘exceptional’ rating for all categories.

What did Ofsted say was particularly good about Broughton High School?

Describing what it’s like to be a pupil at Broughton High School, inspectors began by saying: “Pupils are proud to attend this school. They benefit from a deeply caring and ambitious school community.”

This care and ambition means that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are said to “achieve tremendously well and make sustained progress from their individual starting points” leaving them “extremely well prepared for their next stage of education, employment or training”.

Pupils’ behaviour and attendance are too described as “exemplary” with inspectors noting that pupils “are highly attentive and respectful of the ‘Broughton values’. The deep-rooted ethos that values bravery, resilience and optimism encourages pupils to take responsibility for their own successes”.

Leaders were praised for having established “a broad, ambitious and highly inclusive curriculum” whilst teachers “adopt sophisticated approaches to check pupils’ understanding“, “adapt learning responsively” and “remove barriers to learning without lowering expectations”.

In fact, the school’s inclusion strategy is said to “sit at the heart of its work” with the careful alignment of academic and pastoral support enabling “pupils facing challenges to remain fully engaged in school life”.

Outside of the main curriculum, Ofsted noted that “pupils benefit from a remarkably rich range of opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom”, for instance through clubs, educational visits and international trips.

The personal development programme is also said to be “woven through every aspect of school life”, helping pupils develop into “highly confident and socially responsible individuals” with a “deep appreciation of fundamental British values, equality and diversity”.

Regarding leadership and governance, inspectors credited leaders for being “the driving force behind the school’s continued success” and praised governors for providing “perceptive challenge and steadfast support”.

What does Broughton High School need to improve?

Usually a ‘next steps’ part of the report explains what a school should most focus on.

Broughto, Inspectors did not however even produce a ‘next steps’ section of Broughton High School’s report, failing to highlight anything that needed improving.

What did Broughton High School say about its new report?

Headteacher Mr David Botes said: “We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection.

“This is a true reflection of the hard work, dedication and commitment of our entire school community – our wonderful staff, supportive parents, dedicated governors and, most importantly, our amazing pupils, who make our school such a special place.”

You can read the full Ofsted report for yourself here.