Rugby secondary school receives its 'best ever Ofsted result'
A secondary school in Rugby has said it has received its ‘best ever Ofsted result’ following an inspection in July.
An Ofsted inspection was carried out at Harris Church of England Academy in Harris Drive on July 7, and this month the school found out the results.
The school is part of the Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust, who said it “received the highest result among similar schools in the county under the new inspection framework, with inspectors praising leadership, inclusion and pupil well-being”.
Under the new Ofsted grading system, which started officially during inspections in November 2025, the education watchdog no longer gives one overall judgement, such as ‘good’, ‘outstanding’ or ‘requires improvement’ to schools.
Instead there are now ‘report cards’, which show colour-coded grades for different areas that are graded on a new scale of: ‘exceptional’, ‘strong standard’, ‘expected standard’, ‘needs attention’ and ‘urgent improvement’.
In this latest inspection, Harris Church of England Academy received ‘strong standard’ marks in the following four areas: personal development and wellbeing, leadership and governance, inclusion and attendance and behaviour.
It also received two ‘expected standard’ grades in the pupil’s achievement and curriculum and teaching categories.
Under the ‘next steps’ section of the inspection report, it said: “Leaders should continue to ensure that teaching consistently meets their high expectations and secures pupils’ learning over time.”
The school said the work by headteacher Roberta Harrison and her leadership team has led Harris Church of England Academy to its “best ever Ofsted result”.
Roberta joined in 2015 as an assistant head when the school was in special measures and helped the previous headteacher move the school to ‘Requires Improvement’ under the old Ofsted gradings system.
In June 2019, she took over as headteacher and led it to achieve the school’s best result of an Ofsted ‘Good’ grading in 2022.
She has now surpassed this with the recent inspection results.
This year’s inspection is also the first one the school has received since the change to the Ofsted grading system.
Roberta Harrison said: “I am particularly proud of how our Harris family was recognised and that Ofsted said 'pupils thrive at this happy school'.
“We are very proud of our school community and thank parents and students for their support.”
Michael Cowland, chief executive officer of the Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust, added: “I am thrilled that the inspectors recognised the immense strengths of Harris CofE Academy, and am extremely proud of the report which accurately captures life in school.
“I would like to thank all our staff and students for their hard work and dedication as we work together to pursue life in all its fullness.”
Looking ahead, Harris CofE Academy said it will “build on this Ofsted recognition by continuing to be out would facing and leaders of new initiatives such as the phone pouch system, which was launched at Harris in May 2025 ahead of the Government decision to make this consistent across schools in September 2026”.
The school thanked parents, carers, staff and pupils for their contributions.
To read the full Ofsted report, go to: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/140371
For more information on the new Ofsted grading system go to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-ofsted-report-cards-and-grades