Blackpool FC (BFC) School provides full-time education for Year 10 and 11 students including those with an Education Health Care Plan who require an alternative to mainstream education. We work with Blackpool Council and numerous local high schools to provide the students with GCSE English Language, GCSE Maths, Functional Skills Maths and English, NCFE Sport and Fitness, PSHE, Personal and Social Development, Art and Music whilst also offering The Duke of Edinburgh Award.
On behalf of BFC School, Blackpool FC Community Trust (BFCCT) are delighted to announce that we achieved an overall grading of ‘Good’ following the three-day Ofsted inspection from Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th November 2024.
We were judged against four areas, Leadership and Management, Behaviour and Attitudes, Quality of Education and Personal Development. We were deemed ‘Good’ for all four areas, with Personal Development showing signs of ‘Outstanding’.
Safeguarding was also judged as effective, and the inspector highlighted how polite and respectful students were when spoken to and how safe they felt in the environment.
The report remarks that the support from the Blackpool Football Club and BFCCT feeds into the positive impact BFC School is having in the wider community and gives a great reflection of the support our Football Club gives to the town. “Pupils learn about the importance of kindness and community through a range of charitable activities.”
The report highlights what it is like to attend BFC School, “Pupils flourish at this school. They are polite and kind… Pupils are proud to act out the positive behaviours that they see from staff… They make a strong contribution to the calm and respectful atmosphere that exists at the school.” We believe that our listening culture enriches the educational experience for our students, creating an environment built on respect and supporting the aspirations of all our students.
The report mentions our curriculum which aims to enhance essential academic skills, whilst also providing students with a range of opportunities and experiences, “Pupils read books that support their wider understanding of the world. For example, pupils learn about healthy relationships, how to care for their mental health and the many differences that exist between people.”
We encourage all of our students to gain knowledge, qualifications, and skills relevant to adult life and employment in a rapidly changing world, “Staff work with precision to help pupils to become confident and fluent readers… Pupils move on to meaningful destinations that include further education, apprenticeships or employment with training.”
We are proud of the work our team of teachers and staff do and to see it mentioned in the report was great, “The proprietor has established an environment in which everyone is valued at the school… The school accurately identifies the additional needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)… Pupils respond well to the high expectations that the school has for their achievement.”
“The school provides well-considered support to a small number of pupils who need help to manage their own behaviour. Staff expertly address the barriers that have prevented pupils from attending school regularly in the past. This has helped to increase the rate of attendance for the majority of pupils.”
Gemma Trickett, Head of School, said,
“The school is incredibly proud of this achievement, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its staff, pupils, and wider community.
“The Ofsted report highlighted the school’s strong culture of support and encouragement, which fosters the success of its pupils. Inspectors were particularly impressed with the positive relationships between staff and pupils, and the high expectations that are set for all learners to achieve.
“This is a fantastic achievement for our school, and I am incredibly proud of everyone who has contributed to our success. This rating reflects our commitment to providing a high-quality education where all our pupils flourish, and we will continue to build on this success in the future. All the staff at BFC School are committed to providing a nurturing and stimulating learning environment where all pupils can thrive. This Ofsted rating is a recognition of the school’s ongoing efforts to provide the best possible education for its pupils.”
Ashley Hackett, CEO at BFCCT, said
“When we started the journey to set up and start an Independent School we do so with the intention to support those young people in our community who struggle to find an environment to develop their education and futures.
“What the school has developed into is exactly that and more.
“The environment the staff have built allows the young people to be themselves in a friendly and safe place, which then allows each individual to get the education they need.
“All students’ attendance is higher at BFC School, than it was in their previous school and most are getting qualifications and moving to positive destinations beyond any expectations from their previous school, families and most importantly themselves.
“I’m unbelievably proud of all the hard work the team have shown to support these young people and thank them for their dedication to not just the week our Ofsted inspection took place, but for every week they give to making these pupils lives happier and healthier.
“This Ofsted inspection was a welcome exercise for us to prove the great work that’s going on at the stadium and we thank the inspectors for showing understanding and commitment to our provision. The team and students did a great job in demonstrating and proving this is a GOOD School and we will strive to maintain the standards we’ve now set for the future.”
This achievement marks a significant milestone for BFC School, reflecting the dedication and commitment of our staff, students, and BFCCT. We are proud to provide an educational environment where students feel safe, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. Moving forward, we aim to build on this success and continue to inspire positive change in the lives of our students and our community. Together, we remain committed to our mission to nurture confident, capable, and compassionate young individuals who are prepared for a bright future.
