Lift Bexleyheath

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met and the school has an open culture of safeguarding.
• Pupils behave well and have very positive attitudes to learning.
• The school is calm and orderly, with embedded routines and punctual pupils.
• Attendance is consistently close to the national average, including for different groups and the sixth form.
• Leaders track attendance carefully and use additional funding effectively to support disadvantaged pupils.
• Staff build positive working relationships with pupils and treat them with respect and kindness.
• Pupils are confident that bullying, name-calling and discrimination are taken seriously.
• Suspensions have been significantly reduced over time, including for pupils with SEND.
• Disadvantaged pupils have consistently achieved close to the national average over time.
• Pupils with SEND generally achieve in line with their goals and make gains in personal development.
• Leaders have a clear understanding of curriculum strengths and priorities, supported by the trust.
• Teachers generally know their subjects well and give clear explanations.
• Prep time is typically effective, including phonics and basics in reading and mathematics.
• The school serves its diverse community well and identifies barriers to learning effectively.
• Staff know pupils well and information about SEND is updated regularly.
• Leaders work particularly well with external agencies to secure appropriate help.
• Governance fulfils statutory responsibilities effectively, including robust safeguarding checks.
• Staff are very positive about working at the school and feel leaders consider wellbeing and workload.
• New teachers are well supported and training matches improvement priorities.
• Leaders engage parents well through inclusion drop-in clinics and expert-led coffee mornings.
• Pastoral care is a strength of the school's provision.
• Pupils learn a lot about careers and are well prepared for life after school.
• The sixth form offers a range of subjects, including new qualifications such as economics and cyber-security.
• Most sixth-form students benefit from high-quality work experience matching career goals.
• Students facing additional barriers are well known and supported with bursaries and external support.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils with high prior attainment do not make as much progress as they could.
• Teaching quality varies, particularly in checking pupils' understanding and adapting to their needs.
• Adaptations for pupils with SEND are not always sufficiently helpful in boosting progress.
• Leaders' checks on the impact of their work are not as insightful as they could be.
• A-level achievement and value added were below national averages in 2025.
• Feedback to sixth-form students is not always helpful in moving their learning on.
• Take-up of extra-curricular activities among sixth-form students is not high.
• Pupils' knowledge in some personal development topics, such as healthy lifestyles and world religions, is less detailed.
• Some 2025 GCSE outcomes, including English and maths grade 5 or above and Attainment 8, were below national averages.
• Destinations after 16 were below the national average for 2023 leavers.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools