King’s Oak School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school has improved considerably since the previous inspection.

It is now giving its pupils a good education. The executive headteacher and head of school have high aspirations for the school. These are shared by staff and pupils.

An incisive analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and the action taken, are resulting in rapid and secure improvement. The governing body supports and challenges school leaders highly effectively. They are determined to see that the school continues to improve.

Staff work hard to help pupils develop into more confident and resilient young men who can make sensible decisions about their future. Most ...pupils are now attending more regularly, which is helping them to catch up with their peer group. Safeguarding is a high priority in the school.

Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe in and outside school, and online. Relationships between staff and pupils are good, and promote good behaviour and attitudes to learning. The key stage 3 curriculum gives pupils a secure start to their secondary education.

Teaching is good. Teachers know their pupils well and plan lessons which meet the range of individual needs. Pupils have opportunities to practise their literacy and numeracy in different subjects but this is not yet consistent enough.

In key stage 4 and beyond, the options for pupils are relatively limited. Staff have started work in school and with colleges on improving choices. Teachers provide pupils with good feedback but the pupils' response is very variable and teachers are not consistent in following this up.

Information about this school

King's Oak is a community special school, formerly known as Moatbridge School. It became part of the Imperium Federation with Waterside Primary School in January 2018. The headteacher of Waterside School became the executive headteacher of the federation and a head of school was appointed for King's Oak.

The federation has one governing body. The school caters for boys aged 11 to 16 who have been diagnosed with social, emotional and mental health conditions. All pupils have an EHC plan.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well above average. Pupils come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, with the largest single group being of White British origin. The school currently has no pupils who speak English as an additional language.