Schools break the mould with radical approach and glowing report (2025)

Cleve House celebrates top marks and new vision through global partnership

A pair of pioneering international schools in the South West are celebrating top marks from inspectors – and they're not keeping it to themselves.

Cleve House and Wotton House International Schools have impressed the Independent Schools Inspectorate with their innovative and personalised approaches to learning.

Cleve House International School in Knowle, Bristol, and its partner school, Wotton House International School in Gloucester, were both inspected last term by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and have now received glowing reports.

The two independent schools entered into a partnership in 2023, with Cleve House becoming the first school in Bristol to offer elements of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme for pupils aged 11 to 16.

The IB, which provides an alternative to traditional GCSEs, is widely regarded as a global “gold standard” and focuses on five core subjects with a streamlined exam approach at age 16.

Cleve House, which now teaches children from age two to 16, was praised for developing “confident, resilient pupils with a positive attitude to learning in an environment that is full of joy, empathy and opportunity.”

Inspectors highlighted the school's nurturing environment, noting: “Pupils develop high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem and respond positively to the empathy and kindness shown towards them. They develop the resilience to participate fully in their learning, enabling pupils to achieve well across the full range of subjects that they study.”

They also reported that pupils with additional needs make “rapid progress” thanks to targeted staff interventions and a consistent focus on building self-confidence.

Other highlights from Cleve House’s inspection include:

• Staff tailoring learning to suit the needs and interests of individual children
• Effective leadership driving school improvement and supporting pupil well-being
• High standards of behaviour and a calm, purposeful classroom atmosphere
• A respectful, safe, and secure environment for pupils

Clare Fraser, headteacher at Cleve House International School, said: “Bristol’s independent schools have been hugely successful over the years by offering a traditional educational approach, but we are offering something radically different.

“This has been borne out by our latest inspection report, which recognises the way we are already transforming our pupils’ development through our unique educational approach in partnership with Wotton House.”

Meanwhile, inspectors also praised Wotton House International School for its highly personalised learning model. The Gloucester-based school, which currently admits pupils from age seven to 16, has announced it will launch a sixth form in the upcoming academic year following the ISI’s approval to extend its age range.

The inspection report found: “Leaders have developed a creative approach to curriculum design which ensures that all pupils’ needs, interests and preferences are identified, understood and supported.

“Assessment of pupils’ work is also adapted to best meet each pupil’s needs. This comprehensive approach by leaders to create personalised pathways so that all pupils make good progress is a significant strength of the school.”

Daniel Sturdy, principal of Wotton House, said: “The inspectors’ report highlights how our approach ensures that every student’s needs, interests and strengths are understood and supported.

“As part of this inspection, our application to extend the school’s age range has also been approved and from September we will be launching a Wotton International Sixth Form.

“Our partnership with Cleve House is a game changer for education locally and from September we will be able to provide even more opportunities for our students to thrive.”