Bracken Hill School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The passionate staff team creates a school culture where pupils' needs are at the forefront of everyone's work.

Pupils enjoy coming to school. This is an improving school. The headteacher and deputy headteacher are acting on the correct priorities for development.

Pupils' education is getting better as a result. The new senior leadership team is improving the quality of teaching. As a result, pupils' achievements across all areas of their development are also improving.

Disadvantaged pupils make as good progress as other pupils. Leaders have not yet ensured that there is a consistent approach to the teaching of phonics across the... school. Pupils make good progress across a range of subjects.

Pupils achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics across all year groups. Systems to track pupils' progress across the full range of subjects are not yet effective enough. The early years provision is good.

Children and their families are well supported on entry to the school. Children quickly start to develop their communication skills. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good.

Bracken Hill School is a happy place where pupils feel valued and cared for. Teaching is good. In the main building classrooms are vibrant and displays support pupils' learning.

On occasion, teachers do not use lesson time effectively to promote pupils' learning. Students make good progress in the sixth form. Students are well prepared for moving to college or to a training provider.

Students benefit from gaining a wide range of accreditations and qualifications. The behaviour of pupils is good. Pupils make and maintain friendships.

Pupils are polite to visitors to the school. The attendance of pupils is good. Pupils' safety is a high priority at the school.

Staff recruitment and child protection arrangements are excellent. The governing body fulfils its duties effectively. It provides leaders with the necessary support to improve the quality of the school.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The headteacher took up the post at the school in January 2016. The deputy headteacher joined the school in April 2016.

Bracken Hill School caters for pupils who have a wide range of special educational needs and/or disabilities. There are rising numbers of pupils with a diagnosis of autism. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan.

The school caters for pupils from 4–19 years of age. Until September 2016 the early years provision was not active due to there being no pupils of that age on the school's roll. The school uses Skills for Employment and the SPACE Learning Centre as alternative providers.

The school has a separate building that is used by post-16 students. There are more boys than girls. Almost all pupils are from a White British background and speak English as their first language.