News

We are delighted to share that our school has been awarded the NACE Challenge Award, becoming the first school in Hertfordshire to receive this nationally recognised accreditation. The award followed a rigorous two-day accreditation process, during which external NACE reviewers observed lessons across the school, spoke in depth with students, teachers and leaders, and reviewed curriculum design, teaching practice and outcomes. This process confirmed that our vision is clearly lived in practice: that all young people, including the more able, can develop their abilities without limits, regardless of the barriers they may face.

The report recognises that challenge for all is embedded across both primary and secondary phases and is not an initiative but a deeply rooted culture, driven daily by our ACE values of high expectations, care and ambition for every learner. Students feel safe to take risks, think deeply and persevere, supported by strong relationships and exemplary conduct which create the conditions for excellence throughout the school.

The review highlighted that teaching makes a genuine difference, with quality-first, adaptive teaching consistently pitched to the top, underpinned by expert subject knowledge, modelling and questioning. Challenge is intellectual rather than procedural, with students expected to explain, justify, analyse, and connect ideas, while teachers skilfully adapt lessons in the moment without reducing cognitive demand.

Learners across all phases understand what challenge is and why it matters, showing high levels of independence, metacognition and perseverance, and viewing difficulty as an essential part of success. Oracy was identified as a particular strength, with students confident in reasoning, debating, and thinking aloud, enabling deeper understanding and learning.

Alongside this, the school offers a broad and ambitious curriculum, enriched through ACE, leadership roles and a wide range of enrichment opportunities that develop talent, confidence, and character. Strong careers education further builds aspiration and future readiness, with outcomes reflecting this work through rising high prior attainment results, improving post-18 destinations and the continued closing of gaps.

As we move forward, this award strengthens our commitment to continuous improvement. Our next steps include sharing more frequently with parents what challenge in learning looks like in practice, helping families understand how challenge supports all children, and working together to remove barriers and raise aspiration. We will be running parent workshops and providing further opportunities for parents to learn more about challenge in learning and how best to support their children at home, with more details to follow.

We are exceptionally proud that our school is now the only school nationally to hold accreditation with Voice 21 for Oracy Education, to be recognised as an Apple Distinguished School for excellence in digital technologies, and to have achieved the NACE Challenge Award, reflecting a unique and powerful combination of teaching and learning for all children.