Hollywater School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Students make good progress. Often they make outstanding progress in developing their social and communication skills.

The sixth form is good. Students work hard and make good progress as a result of effective teaching. They are well prepared for the next stage in their lives.

Teaching is typically good and the amount of outstanding teaching is increasing. In lessons, students learn well because they enjoy their learning. More-able students are offered the opportunity to study in a local school as well as with their peers.

This helps them to reach their potential. Children get a good start in the Reception class, where they achi...eve well. Students behave well in lessons and around the school.

Relationships with adults are excellent because the school cares for its students very well. Students feel safe in school. Students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted well through opportunities to work and play with their peers in mainstream education.

Leaders and governors have worked closely together to sustain the school's performance and raise both the quality of teaching and achievement across the school since the previous inspection. Members of the governing body have a range of skills, which means they offer effective support and challenge to senior leaders. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Marking does not always show students how to improve.

A small minority of subject leaders and those responsible for particular age groups are not involved fully in improving all aspects of the quality of teaching. Teaching assistants are not always used well to support rapid learning throughout lessons.

Information about this school

All students have a statement of special educational needs; over half of the students have severe or moderate learning difficulties.

There are an increasing number of students entering with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Some students have an autistic spectrum condition. Other groups include those with sensory, physical, and medical needs.

The majority of students are boys. Students enter the school at various starting points across all key stages. The proportion of students eligible for the pupil premium, which is extra government funding based on the numbers of pupils entitled to free school meals, pupils in the care of the local authority and those with a parent in the armed forces, is average.

The proportion of students from ethnic backgrounds other than White British is average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is average. The school uses a range of work placements in local businesses and courses in Highbury College and Alton College as alternative provision to support students in Key Stage 4 and in the sixth form.