Greenfields Specialist School for Communication

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The senior leadership team has a strong vision for the future of the school that is shared by all staff.

All students make at least good progress from their different starting points. Teaching captures students' imagination so that they are keen to join in and really try their best. Students enjoy their learning in lessons and are helped to communicate effectively by skilled staff.

Behaviour is good and relationships are excellent. Staff keep students safe, and they care for them extremely well. The sixth form is good.

Students are prepared very effectively for life after school. The learning environment is bright and encouragin...g. It helps students to focus and celebrates their achievements.

Governors know the school well. They have worked closely with the headteacher and local authority to make many recent improvements. Parents appreciate the education and care provided by the school.

One wrote, 'We not only feel that her care and education has been exceptional, we have been supported as a family.' It is not yet an outstanding school because : Although the vast majority of teaching is good, not enough lessons are outstanding. Staff do not consistently use assessment information, marking and discussions with students to help them understand how to improve their learning and to make the best progress they can.

Staff do not always give students sufficient time to respond to questions or to complete tasks and work things out for themselves. School self-assessment and improvement planning does not always focus sufficiently on students' learning and progress.

Information about this school

Greenfields School and Sports College educates secondary-age students with profound, severe and complex learning needs.

Many students have additional medical needs. Most students are White British. There are a few students from minority ethnic groups.

All students have a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of students receiving pupil premium is low. The pupil premium is additional funding for students who are looked after by the local authority or who are known to be eligible for free school meals.

The school does not use any form of alternative provision. Through consortium arrangements, sixth form students access learning across a group of Northamptonshire special schools. Options including catering, horticulture, business studies, and hair and beauty.

The school provides Augmentative and Alternative Communication advice and support for children on behalf of the local authority. The headteacher and deputy headteacher were appointed in 2012 after a short period of being the acting senior leadership team. The school has consulted stakeholders with a view to becoming an academy during the next school year.