Knowsley Central School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Every member of staff in this school is totally committed to enabling each and every pupil to be the best they possibly can be. The headteacher provides outstanding leadership. She and her excellent senior managers have built highly effective teams to deliver a range of services to meet the needs of pupils in the school and in other schools in the borough.

They have continued to improve on the outstanding judgements of the previous inspection. Outstanding teaching ensures outstanding achievement. Pupils make outstanding progress in their English and mathematics skills so that they are able to use them in their everyday lives by t...he time they leave school.

Very occasionally opportunities are missed, when planning for writing and when pupils' work is marked, to ensure even faster progress. Teachers and teaching assistants know their pupils exceptionally well. They build rapidly on their prior learning, planning creative and enjoyable lessons which motivate pupils to want to learn.

Staff place a high priority on pupils' well-being so that they are ready and eager to join in lessons. Pupils enjoy excellent relationships with staff which are mutually respectful and build pupils' confidence and trust. Pupils love coming to school because it is a very happy place and they feel very safe there.

Attendance levels are high and behaviour is exceptionally well-managed so that no learning time is lost. Children who arrive at the Early Years Foundation Stage get off to an excellent start. Joint work between classroom staff and the school's speech and language therapist help children begin to communicate their needs and wishes.

The curriculum is innovative and ambitious. Leaders have developed new provision for Key Stage 3 students. They make sure that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to work with the changing special educational needs and disabilities of the students.

The governing body has provided exceptionally high-quality support and challenge to the school's leaders. The commitment and stability of governing body membership has been a huge contributory factor in the school's success. Outreach guidance, advice and support provided from the school is outstanding.

Partner schools cannot speak more highly of the contribution made by the very skilled outreach staff who help them to develop their own expertise.

Information about this school

Knowsley Central School has changed its name since the previous inspection when it was known as Knowsley Central Primary Support Centre. The needs of pupils have changed over time.

About three-quarters of pupils have an autism spectrum condition as their primary special educational need, with the remaining pupils having a range of complex needs. All pupils currently have a statement of special educational needs. Pupils are admitted to the school at other than the usual times and ages.

Numbers of pupils in the school have increased and since the previous inspection the school has created a Key Stage 3 provision, which is growing. Some of these students enjoy particular lessons with Altbridge Secondary School students. The very small number of Early Years Foundation Stage children is in a small class with Year 1 and 2 pupils.

There are three times as many boys as girls in the school, which is typical for such schools. The very large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils eligible for the pupil premium is very high at over twice the national average.

Pupil premium is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for those looked after by the local authority. Primary school sports funding is provided for primary aged pupils. The school has not received Year 7 catch-up funding.

The school provides an outreach support service to schools in the central area of Knowsley. This includes consultancy, training and advice to schools and 36 part-time placements at Knowsley Central School for mainstream primary pupils identified as requiring additional help with their literacy development. The headteacher is a local leader of education.