Glebe School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. There is a very strong culture of learning in the school. The Glebe School vision is summed up in the words 'We believe we can', and this reflects a palpable ethos of high expectations and high challenge.

Parents, staff and students are all extremely positive about the school. Students enjoy coming to school and attendance rates are exceptionally high. The achievement of students is outstanding.

Their needs are extremely well catered for and all groups of students, including disadvantaged students, make rapid or very rapid progress. Those with the highest level of learning need make exceptional progress, particularly in literacy,... and also in the sixth form. Teaching is outstanding.

Teachers succeed in capturing students' interest and are extremely skilful at overcoming students' barriers to learning. As a result of a strong focus on students' personal and social development, they make sure that students are very well prepared for the next stage of their education or training. The behaviour of students is excellent, both around the school and in lessons.

Those who find difficulties with everyday social communication are extremely well supported, and learn to treat each other, and the adults with whom they work, with respect and kindness. They come to lessons ready to learn. The arrangements for keeping students safe are excellent and all statutory requirements for safeguarding and child protection are met.

The sixth form is outstanding. It is extremely well led and provides excellent tailored programmes of learning that are highly effective in meeting the needs of the students, including the most disadvantaged and most vulnerable. Leadership and management are outstanding.

The senior leadership team is well respected and highly effective, while leaders in charge of subjects and year groups are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the direction of the school. The range of subjects and activities offered is very carefully designed in order to meet students' individual needs. It ensures that students make rapid progress in the core subjects of English and mathematics.

It also ensures that students have access to a wide range of opportunities through work in class and the very many enrichment activities. By the end of Year 11, the majority of students achieve success in a range of GCSE and other qualifications. Governors are extremely effective in holding senior leaders to account and play a very important part in maintaining and improving even further the very high quality of education provided by the school.

Information about this school

Glebe is a secondary special school. All students have a statement of special educational needs. The school caters for a range of primary needs, including moderate learning difficulties, speech and language difficulties, severe learning difficulties, specific learning difficulties, physical disabilities, visual impairment and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

A significant and increasing proportion have an autistic spectrum disorder. The school is gradually receiving more students with complex learning needs. Boys outnumber girls in the school.

Around three quarters of the students are boys. Around half of the students are eligible for pupil premium funding and this is well above the national average. This is government funding to support the learning of students eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.

The proportion of students from minority ethnic groups is around the national average, and a small minority of students speak English as an additional language. The majority of Year 11 students and some members of the sixth form attend Bromley College for one day a week. There is currently a building programme underway to enable the school to cater for an increased number of students.

Also at this postcode