Queen Mary’s High School in Walsall commended as one of the very best schools by Ofsted
Queen Mary’s High School in Walsall, which is one of twelve schools in The Mercian Trust, has received an exceptionally glowing report following its inspection by Ofsted in March.
Ofsted inspectors judged the school to be one of the very best secondary schools in England, awarding five ‘Strong Standard’ ratings, and two ‘Exceptional’ ratings. Ofsted have stated that Exceptional ratings are only awarded in the very rarest of circumstances, “… when we see practice that is among the very best nationally” (Ofsted, Understanding Ofsted report cards and grade, 2025)
The full report which is now available on the Ofsted website (Queen Mary's High School - Open - Find an Inspection Report - Ofsted), breaks down the individual findings of the inspectors over the seven areas of Attendance and behaviour, Curriculum and teaching, Inclusion, Leadership and governance, Personal development and wellbeing, Post-16 provision, alongside Safeguarding.
Particular highlights from the report include:
- Pupils’ achievement is described as “truly remarkable”, with outcomes significantly above national averages across GCSE and A level
- There is “a culture of ambition and expectation that shapes every aspect of school life” with pupils thriving academically and personally
- Our personal development programme is “extremely impressive”, with high participation and a strong culture of inclusion which ensures “equitable opportunity”.
- Pupils’ behaviour is “superb”, and they demonstrate a strong sense of belonging to the “Queen Mary family”.
Inspectors were unequivocal in their praise for pupils and the culture of the school. They recognised what the school is most passionate about: the distinctive “spirit of Queen Mary’s”, where pupils feel part of a supportive and ambitious community and develop into confident, independent young people ready for their next steps.
The report highlights the exceptional achievement and academic progress of pupils, with particular focus on disadvantaged pupils, whose outcomes far exceed national averages and closely match those of their peers in school. This represents the commitment of Queen Mary’s High School and The Mercian Trust to a shared mission of social justice and social mobility.
Headteacher, Nicola Daniel, said:
I am absolutely delighted that this report recognises the exceptional achievements of our pupils and the strength of our whole school community. Queen Mary’s High School is a place where high expectations and strong support go hand in hand, ensuring every pupil can achieve their best and feel part of our community. It is particularly pleasing that inspectors saw what makes Queen Mary’s so special: a school family where pupils thrive academically and personally, feel a strong sense of belonging, and benefit from an inclusive environment where every young person is supported to succeed. I am proud that this outcome reflects the dedication of our staff, the ambition of our pupils and the unwavering support of our parents, and we are excited to continue building on this success for the future.
Chair of Governors, Tim Normanton, said:
I am incredibly proud of this result - a testament to the brilliant work of the whole school family, our students, colleagues, leaders, governors and the Mercian Trust team. For me it's important to recognise that Ofsted strong standard is defined as excellent, consistent work, and exceptional is reserved for a handful of schools in the country. For QMHS to achieve two exceptional grades reflects the fact that the school is absolutely amongst the very best and I hope that you are as excited as I am to secure this well-deserved recognition. A massive well done and thank you to the fantastic school community that really do make QMHS amazing every day.
Dan Parkes, CEO of The Mercian Trust, said:
This is an exceptionally impressive report and a powerful endorsement of Queen Mary’s High School as a place of the highest of standards nationally. I want to congratulate our students, our staff and the wider school community on this remarkable achievement. Inspectors have quite rightly recognised a school where students not only achieve exceptionally well but experience a rich and transformational education as part of an incredible school community defined by ambition, inclusion and genuinely care for each other. This is something truly special, and we are immensely proud of everyone who has contributed to it.