Beckmead Park Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Since the previous inspection, exceptional leadership, management and governance have sustained and improved the quality of teaching in the school.

The school involves all the pupils successfully. It supports the well-being of the young people, who are often vulnerable. Staff and pupils therefore succeed in realising the school's motto, 'Believe it – we can do it.'

Pupils are enthusiastic about their learning. They make exceptional progress in their academic and personal development. Pupils make rapid progress in the basic skills of literacy, numeracy and communication, and in science.

The excellent staff training and de...velopment opportunities have resulted in a high-quality workforce. As a result, the teaching is highly effective and pupils learn outstandingly well. Therapists play a key role in supporting the school's work by enabling pupils to learn through raising their confidence and self-esteem.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength of the school. Through very good use of local community resources, pupils gain a clear understanding of life in modern Britain. Staff are highly skilled in managing pupils' behaviour.

As a result, pupils learn valuable self-control techniques so that they can deal with their emotions and they behave extremely well. They feel safe and make great strides in their personal development. Pupils enjoy coming to school and attend regularly.

Because of excellent attention to their care and well-being, most pupils make rapid improvement in their attendance when compared with that at their previous schools. Arrangements for safeguarding meet requirements and help to ensure that pupils and staff remain safe. Governors know the school well and are committed to its success.

They have a detailed understanding of the school's strengths and areas to improve. They have first-hand evidence gathered from visits. Currently, information on pupils' progress is not included in the new assessment system for some subjects.

As a result, senior staff and governors do not always have the fullest information on which to base their decisions.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The Beckmead family of schools caters for 184 boys and girls aged between five and 16 who have a range of complex needs including, social, emotional and mental health difficulties and communication difficulties.

It makes provision for pupils with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and challenging behaviour. Almost all pupils are boys. Since the last inspection, the school has expanded the age range of pupils on roll from seven to 16 to five to 16.

The provision operates on five sites: – Monks Orchard is the main school site and caters for pupils aged between seven and 16, and includes key stage 3 autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) provision. – The Community Learning Team (CLT) is based in Alverston Gardens and caters for key stage 4 pupils. – Chaffinch Brook and Autism Outreach is based in Morland Road and hosts the key stages 1 and 2 ASD provision for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder and challenging behaviour.

– The School Inclusion Gateway (SIG), based at Bramley Bank, caters for key stage 2 pupils who need short-stay placements. The outreach service is also based at this site. – The Rainbow class, based at Aerodrome Primary School, caters for key stage 1 pupils who need short-stay placements.

Almost all pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care (EHC) plan, related to autistic spectrum disorder and communication needs or their social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Beckmead provides a range of local authority and outreach services. Just over three quarters of pupils are supported by the pupil premium funding, which is almost three times the national average.

Just over half of all pupils are from minority ethnic groups. This is well above the national average, with the largest groups being from Black Caribbean and White and Black Caribbean backgrounds. Off-site training is made available for pupils to extend their learning experience.

The school offers the following activities: – horse riding at The Diamond Centre, Carshalton and the Kingsmead Equestrian Centre, Warlingham – bicycle maintenance at Croydon Auto Bike Scheme (CABS) in New Addington – construction at the Skills and Integrated Learning Centre in Mitcham – physical education and sport at Sporting Chances, based at the David Weir Leisure Centre – swimming at West Wickham Leisure Centre, South Norwood Leisure Centre, Waddon Leisure Centre and St Mary's Primary School, Croydon – gardening at Dorset Road Allotments, Beckenham – music technology at Scream Studios, Croydon – ICT and mechanics at Lewisham Southwark College – 'forest school' at Frylands Wood Outdoor Centre, Croydon. Just over a half of the pupils across the school are involved with the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) because of their social, emotional and mental health needs. Pupils are not entered early for examinations.

In September 2017, Beckmead College is due to open in partnership with Alverston Gardens, and will offer up to 100 places for pupils aged between 14 and 19. The provision will offer work-related courses in: bricklaying, carpentry, catering, motor mechanics, multi skills, painting and decorating, and will be housed in a state-of-the art building. The Beckmead family of schools has applied to the Department for Education to become the Lockley Trust on 1 September 2017.