Beechcliffe Special School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Achievement has improved since the last inspection. Students now make good progress in all subjects and in their personal development and life skills. Some students are now making outstanding progress.

This means that they are well prepared for the next stage in their education or training. Students achieve well in the sixth form. They spend an increasing amount of time developing and applying their skills in an adult situation and preparing for the transition to adult life.

Overall, teaching is good and some is outstanding. Teachers are highly skilled and provide creative learning opportunities that students really enjoy. Stude...nts' behaviour is exemplary.

Learning is rarely affected by disruptive behaviour. Students feel very safe and secure and are very well cared for. The headteacher is committed to ensuring that students are taught exceptionally well.

The management of teaching is highly effective. Leaders and staff share high expectations. Staff are continually encouraged to improve their performance and are very well supported in order to do so.

As a result, the quality of education has improved rapidly since the previous inspection. The governing body makes a good contribution. Governors have a clear vision and good knowledge of the school's performance, particularly the quality of teaching.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : A small minority of teaching requires improvement. The pace of learning, in some parts of lessons, is not always quick enough for students to learn well, particularly at the beginning of mathematics lessons. Students are not always given the opportunity to respond to teachers' marking or know how to improve their work.

Teaching assistants are not always deployed effectively. In mathematics students are not always given enough time to use and apply their skills to solving problems. Some subject leaders are not yet fully involved in monitoring students' progress.

The range of qualifications for students with complex or more profound needs in the sixth form is not yet as wide as it is for students of other abilities.

Information about this school

Most students have moderate, severe, or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Some students additionally have either additional communication difficulties, complex medical conditions, challenging behaviour or a sensory impairment.

Over half of the students are in the sixth form. The large majority of students are White British. Most other students are of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage.

All pupils have a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of students known to be eligible for the pupil premium is above average. (The pupil premium is additional funding for those students who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children form service families and those children that are looked after by the local authority.

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