Ofsted under fire for praising high-profile free school’s curriculum as “broad” –without mentioning absence of computing, single sciences and design and technology

The school arguably most closely associated with this government’s education reforms has secured another “outstanding” verdict from Ofsted –but with the inspectorate controversially describing its curriculum as “broad” despite evidence that it might not be.

Michaela Community School, in Brent in North London, appears to be offering no computing/information technology at all as part of its normal daily lessons, despite the subject being on the national curriculum at key stages three and four.

Design and technology also does not appear on the school’s list of subjects on its website, despite being on the national curriculum at key stage three, while music is only listed as being taught until year eight. In addition, drama is not listed as being taught; only a single modern language was on offer for most pupils in terms of GCSE qualifications last year; and vocational qualifications were not listed among those taken in 2022.

The school also appears to have been the only mainstream secondary in its local authority last year which did not have a single student taking single science GCESs, which are usually seen as the most detailed foundation for science A-levels, with all Michaela pupils taking double science GCSE instead. Most of its students appeared to have chosen from only 11 GCSEs last year-the smallest range of qualifications among Brent’s secondary schools.

Despite all this, Ofsted, which visited the school in May to check if its previous “outstanding” rating should still be in place, stated in its report that Michaela’s curriculum was “broad and exceptionally rich”.