Danecourt School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has taken bold steps to improve the school since her appointment. She demonstrates clear and effective leadership and is well supported by the staff. Governors have radically improved the ways in which they work.

As a result, they are now very knowledgeable about the school and hold leaders to account well. The vast majority of pupils make strong progress across all key stages. This is especially the case for disadvantaged pupils.

Teaching is good overall as staff are committed to improve their practice. A few pupils with more complex needs make less progress than others because the curriculum they study does not fully mee...t their needs. Middle leaders are keen to do well but do not yet have the skills to transform teaching in their subjects.

The school receives judicious and finely targeted support from the Barnsole Primary Trust. As a result, the school continues to improve. Pupils relish coming to school and are very proud of their work.

They work well together and are keen to share, take turns and support each other. Children enter the early years with starting points that are typically very low for their age. They receive very effective support from staff, who have a deep understanding of the children's needs, and make excellent progress.

The curriculum is lively and exciting. Pupils make the most of the many opportunities to learn new skills. Pupils enjoy taking part in a wide range of activities, including riding their bikes, trampolining and swimming.

Leaders work very effectively with other schools and specialist support services. As a result, pupils with complex problems are well catered for. Teaching assistants and other specialist staff make an incisive contribution to the life of the school.

Consequently, pupils receive skilful and well-judged support. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school because it is a happy place where pupils thrive.

Information about this school

This school opened as an academy, part of the Argent Academy Trust, in 2015.

The school subsequently joined the Barnsole Primary Trust in 2018. The headteacher joined the school in January 2019. This school caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and/or autism spectrum disorders.

However, since the previous inspection, the school is increasingly catering for pupils with severe learning difficulties as demand for places for these pupils grow. All students have an education, health and care plan. The majority of students are White British.

About 30% are from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds, including Bangladeshi, African or Other White backgrounds. The majority of the pupils are boys. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is well above the national average.