A GRAMMAR school has been called ‘exceptional’ in an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report.

Bournemouth School received the rating after its inspection in February, with the report finding that pupils ‘receive an excellent quality of education and, as a result, achieve highly’.

The chair of the governors, Mike Jones, said this report was ‘truly incredible’ despite BCP Council and the Department for Education ‘doing their best to undermine Bournemouth School’.

This, he said, was as they are ‘cutting our per pupil funding below the national minimum level’.

The school is an all-boys school, aside from in the sixth form, where girls join.

The report found that pupils make a positive contribution to the school and the wider community, which headteacher Dr Dorian Lewis said the school was ‘particularly pleased’ about.

Bournemouth Echo:

“We are very proud of our young people,” he said.

“They made a significant contribution to the inspection process, and the outcome is a testament to their efforts and demonstrable pride in being members of our school community."

Dr Lewis said the outcome would not have been possible if the school was not a part of local and regional school improvement networks.

He said: “Over the years, Bournemouth School’s leaders, staff, and governors have been continuously looking for ways in which our provision can be improved; that will not change as a result of the publication of this report.

“We believe that no school is perfect, and since the inspection have already identified areas for further improvement. “We will certainly not be resting on our laurels.”

Mr Jones said the report reflects the effort, commitment and hard work of everyone at the school.

He said: “Sadly, BCP Council and the Department for Education are both doing their best to undermine Bournemouth School, along with the other local grammar schools, through cutting our per pupil funding below the national minimum level.

“As one of the lowest funded schools in the country this Ofsted result is truly incredible.

“Politicians at all levels need to stop abusing the goodwill of educators and properly fund all schools.”

Cathi Hadley, BCP Council director of children’s services, said: "We are not attempting to undermine any school’s work. We feel that the level of reductions requested from them are reasonable during this unprecedented national financial crisis in schools funding. 

“The Department for Education have said that it is common practice for local authorities to transfer funding from their schools block to their Higher Needs Block (HNB). 

“The disapplication, since approved by the Secretary of State, was made in light of the financial pressures facing our authority, and many others, regarding the HNB."