Judd School in Tonbridge judged outstanding in all areas by Ofsted

A school has been judged to be “outstanding” following its first Ofsted visit for 10 years.

The Judd School in Brook Street, Tonbridge, had been excused from more frequent inspections after two previous “outstanding” ratings in 2007 and 2015.

The five-man inspection team visited on March 11 and 12 but the report has only just been published.

It found that “pupils flourish at The Judd School”.

It added: “They enjoy a first-class curriculum and an exceptional range of enrichment experiences.

“Throughout the school, pupils demonstrate exemplary behaviour and they can be rightly proud of their outstanding academic success and personal achievements.”

The Judd is a highly selective boys’ grammar school with nearly 1,500 pupils, of whom 22 are on the autistic spectrum. It takes girls in the sixth form.

Besides the expert teaching, inspectors found that The Judd offered “a dazzling array of extra-curricular opportunities: sporting clubs, dramatic and musical productions, trips, visiting speakers and foreign exchanges.”

Head teacher Jonathan Wood said: “I’m tremendously proud of the result, which accurately reflects the high level of work put in by the staff, parents, pupils and governors.

“I believe the inspectors really understood the spirit of the school.”

Inspectors found no areas of suggested improvement.

Mr Wood, who has been head for eight years, said: “I don’t want to blow our own trumpet, when you are outstanding in every area, the results speak for themselves.

“I think the inspectors just had a wholly pleasant time visiting the school and went away really happy.”