Ofsted Praises Guildford Pupils Who ‘Achieve Well and Enjoy Their Learning’

Published on: 10 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 10 Oct, 2026

Christ’s College School, Guildford

Christ’s College in Guildford is celebrating a positive Ofsted report which recognises pupils’ achievement, the school’s caring culture and the strong relationships between pupils and staff.

Following an inspection on September 15 and 16, inspectors judged the school to meet the new Ofsted framework’s Expected Standard in Achievement, Leadership and Governance, Curriculum and Teaching, Inclusion, and Personal Development and Wellbeing. The Safeguarding expected standard was also judged to be met.

Headteacher Matthew Goulborn said the school was particularly pleased that inspectors had recognised the quality of pupils’ day-to-day experience. “We are delighted that the report reflects the hard work of our students and staff, and the culture we are building together at Christ’s.

“During the planning call before the inspection, we were told that achieving the new Expected Standard represented a high bar. We are therefore extremely proud of the outcome and, particularly, of the inspectors’ recognition that our pupils achieve well and enjoy their learning.”

The report states: “Pupils achieve well and enjoy their learning.” Inspectors also noted that pupils demonstrate positive attitudes through “the quality of their written work and verbal responses”.

Behaviour was another area highlighted positively in the report. Inspectors said: “Pupils’ behaviour is orderly and purposeful. Leaders have embedded behaviour expectations that staff and pupils understand. They behave well in lessons and during break and lunch times.”

Mr Goulborn said this reflected a deliberate effort to combine high expectations with a warm and supportive environment. “We want Christ’s to be a school where pupils feel safe, where relationships are positive and where everyone understands the importance of respect and responsibility.

“We are proud that inspectors recognised this culture. Our vision is ‘Leading with love, learning with purpose’. That means caring deeply about our young people while maintaining the ambition and expectations they need to succeed.”

Inspectors specifically recognised the vision, stating that “the school’s vision ‘leading with love’ is at the heart of daily life.” They also noted: “Leaders have created a compassionate and caring school culture.”

The report highlights the school’s commitment to inclusion, stating that “inclusion is at the heart of Christ’s College’s ethos”. Inspectors found that pupils “feel safe and benefit from positive relationships with each other and staff” and recognised the school’s provision of “a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils”.

The school’s personal development programme, enrichment opportunities and careers provision were also highlighted, with careers described as a “significant strength”.

Mr Goulborn said the report reflected the contribution of the whole school community. “Perhaps one of the most pleasing aspects is that inspectors said, ‘Pupils are proud of their school’ and ‘Staff are proud to work at this school’. That matters enormously to us. A school is about much more than examination results; it is about the opportunities young people have, the relationships they build and the people they become.

“We are grateful to our students, staff and families for the part they play in making Christ’s the school it is today.”

The report also identifies attendance for some groups of pupils as an area for further improvement, noting that attendance over the previous four years has not been as strong as it should be. The inspectors do add that absentee pupils “do not benefit fully from the offer the school provides”. The school says improving attendance and ensuring that every pupil can benefit fully from their education remain priorities.

The headteacher added: “We are proud of what the report says about Christ’s, but we are not complacent. Our mantra is ‘better in July than we were in September’. We will continue to focus relentlessly on improving the experience and outcomes of every young person in our school.

“We are not here simply to prove that we are a good school. We are here to become a better school for the young people and families we serve.”