John Watson School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has high expectations of everyone.

Staff and governors share his ambition for each pupil. Important improvements to teaching and learning have taken place. Teachers use assessment information to plan lessons that challenge and support pupils' differing needs well.

Consequently, pupils across the school make good progress from their starting points in reading, writing and mathematics. The pupil premium is spent effectively. Disadvantaged pupils achieve as well as their classmates because they receive helpful additional support.

Children achieve well in the early years. Staff form strong relationships with them and ...use their knowledge of individuals to ensure that they make good progress across the areas of learning. Pupils behave well.

Staff support pupils to make the right choices and set clear expectations for behaviour. Personal development and equality is at the heart of the school's work. Pupils develop positive attitudes to learning and develop confidence because there are many opportunities to do so.

The curriculum is carefully organised to meet pupils' wide-ranging abilities. Leaders keep a close eye on pupils' achievements to ensure that their work is sufficiently challenging. Governors are effective.

They provide appropriate challenge and support to senior leaders and check that responsibilities are met. Learners in the sixth form are well prepared for the next stage in education or employment. Appropriate provision ensures that they have essential skills and attain suitable qualifications.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not all leaders use pupils' progress information to plan improvements and measure their success. Some parents are not positive about the work of the school. Opportunities to develop pupils' skills and knowledge are not always maximised.

Teaching does not consistently promote communication or ensure that pupils are working towards their individual therapy targets.

Information about this school

John Watson School is a special school. It provides education for pupils who have a range of special educational needs or disability including severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorders.

All pupils have an education, health and care plan or statement of special educational needs. A small minority of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional government funding for pupils in local authority care or eligible for free school meals. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is similar to the national average.

A very small minority of pupils speak English as an additional language. The school is federated with Wheatley Nursery School. The headteacher, two of the three deputy headteachers and the governing body lead both schools.

The school is on two sites. Children in the early years and primary aged pupils share a site with Wheatley Primary School and Wheatley Nursery School. Secondary aged pupils are housed in a building on the campus of Wheatley Park, the local secondary school.

Some older learners access some GCSE lessons at Wheatley Park where appropriate. Children in the Nursery Year are dual registered with the Nursery school. The school uses work placements to support learners' wider development in the sixth form.

No alternative provision is used. The headteacher works with other local schools to improve teaching and learning. This includes the headteacher of Frank Wise School, a national leader of education.

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