World Class School
In 2019 we went through a rigorous assessment process with the ‘World Class Schools’ organisation. This organisation awards a quality mark to non-selective state schools that offer the best education in the UK. They judge students against a framework of skills and competencies they feel young people need to flourish in an emerging global economy. There will only ever be one hundred schools in the UK who have achieved ‘World Class Status’.
Potential ‘World Class’ schools are deemed to be outstanding by ‘Ofsted’ at the time of their accreditation and the assessment process for the Mark provides a unique insight into the impact schools have on their students. Our results and outcomes were scrutinised across the five key stages and then the director of WCSQM spent a day dropping into lessons, speaking to our pupils and meeting with members of staff. Once we had passed this first stage we were able to move forward in the process.
One of the unique features of the ‘World Class Schools’ Quality Mark assessment descriptors is that they apply to the pupils, not the school. A group of pupils undertook a comprehensive self-assessment exercise to establish what it is about the school that makes them ‘World Class’. They also had to take part in filming a video to represent daily life at Roundhay (which became the ‘We are Roundhay’ film). Pupils then had to take part in a full day assessment at Reading UTC where they were judged against the Mark’s framework by shadow assessors who followed their every move.
The WCSQM state that: ‘it is the calibre of the student which proves the calibre of the school. If the school is truly ‘World Class’ then the students will be able to own and demonstrate ‘World Class’ qualities.
A ‘World Class’ student:
- is highly literate scientifically, mathematically, technologically and culturally
- consistently out-performs students from similar contexts, and is committed to continually improving their performance
- is an excellent learner, dedicated to lifelong learning
- is a compelling candidate in their field for higher education and/or employment, being globally aware, confident and prepared for life in an international environment.’
We are extremely proud that Roundhay School passed the assessment process with flying colours and has now received full ‘World Class Status’ accreditation. The pupils involved in the process were an absolute credit to our school but it needs to be recognised that this award does not just recognise a small group of pupils, it represents our whole school community. We are ‘World Class’ because of the work we do together. Parents, pupils, staff and anyone connected with Roundhay all play their part in making this school what it is – “We are Roundhay”. 
