“Dame Alice Owen’s school is a wonderful place to come to learn. It supports pupils to become independent and resilient individuals. There is a palpable sense of community here, where pupils from all backgrounds thrive. The school has high aspirations for its pupils. The curriculum is ambitious right from the very first day pupils arrive. Teachers are passionate about what they teach and the pupils enjoy what they learn. Teachers carefully think about the best way to teach all their pupils. This means that pupils achieve exceptionally well. Expectations for behaviour are very high. Pupils say that it is ‘cool to do well here’ ... Leaders are successful in finding extra funding to help some pupils access opportunities like trips and music tuition. This ensures that pupils’ financial background is not a barrier to their success.”