Greenvale School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Greenvale School continues to be an outstanding school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Greenvale is a vibrant and exciting place to learn. Pupils flourish as soon as they join the school.

Staff enable pupils to succeed in many subjects and courses. They strive to provide the best possible education for all pupils. Pupils receive a high quality of care and are well prepared for wider society.

Pupils, including students in the sixth form, enjoy a calm and harmonious atmosphere that exists at both sites of the school.

Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, who have very positive attitudes and behaviour. Highly skilled staff support pupils with care an...d kindness.

Pupils are taught to identify and manage their emotions. They learn about positive relationships and how to keep healthy in an age-appropriate way. Staff take the time to develop a deep understanding of each pupils' individual needs and feelings.

Bullying is rare, and leaders deal effectively with any cases that may occur. Pupils feel safe. They are extremely well prepared for adulthood.

The extensive programme of activities and experiences that leaders have designed helps pupils to develop their self-belief. This helps pupils to become confident, resilient and independent young people. This is evident in pupils' excellent conduct throughout the school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders have put in place an ambitious curriculum. They have designed learning pathways, so that pupils access the right content in a timely way. Within each pathway, staff are adept at making any necessary adaptations to the curriculum, so that pupils can learn and remember more.

Highly effective and skilled teaching of the curriculum is guided by the pupils' education, health, and care (EHC) plans. Targets to reach are aspirational and clear. As a result, pupil outcomes are impressive.

Leaders, including the governing body, are determined to ensure the best possible outcomes for pupils. They have a thorough and strategic understanding of the school. Staff feel supported in their work by leaders.

Pupils are happy and eager to start their day. Pupils who are new to the school quickly settle into school life. This is because staff know pupils' individual needs and backgrounds well.

Where appropriate, pupils go on to study relevant courses at local further education colleges, work experience or training. The school prioritises reading, with opportunities each day for pupils to read a range of texts and listen to adults read to them.

Teachers are adept at enabling pupils to develop their language skills so that they can focus on learning.

Well-trained staff help pupils to communicate through a range of resources, including visual symbols and the use of technology. Over time, this helps pupils to develop their language and communication skills successfully.

Leaders systematically support pupils to improve their behaviour and attendance over time.

If the need arises, staff are quick to support pupils to regulate their emotions and behaviour. This enables pupils to reflect and make positive behaviour choices. Pupils are motivated and eager to learn.

Strong routines help pupils to self-regulate their feelings. When pupils need to refocus on their learning, staff are skilful in guiding and supporting them back. The school has strong systems to support pupils' regular attendance.

Leaders have ensured that pupils' preparation for adulthood is well thought out. Aspects of relationships and sex education, together with health education, are carefully planned throughout the curriculum. Provision for careers education is comprehensive.

Leaders have secured many partnerships with post-sixteen education and training providers. The school has ensured that pupils receive a wide range of careers advice and access to work experience.

Leaders are passionate about developing pupils' character, to ready them to become active citizens.

There is a considerable range of opportunities for pupils to build their confidence, independence and social and life skills. Such opportunities include learning about other faiths, cultures and traditions. Pupils participate in many clubs including music, dance and sports.

They make regular visits out of school into the community and beyond.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Background

When we have judged a school to be outstanding, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains outstanding.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour, or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be outstanding in May 2018.