Mary Rose Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Outstanding leadership and management and the pursuit of excellence across all areas of the school have led to the excellent provision and high quality outcomes, along with an extremely supportive environment in which all pupils flourish.

Exceptional personal and academic opportunities ensure that the school makes an enormous difference to the lives of pupils and their families. As a result, all groups achieve outstandingly well from their individual starting points. A high proportion of teaching is outstanding, enabling pupils to make better than expected progress particularly in communication and reading, in the use of technology and in ...their personal development.

Teachers challenge pupils very well and make the best possible use of teaching assistants to fully engage different groups of pupils in learning. Behaviour is impeccable. Older pupils say they feel safe.

Attendance is above that in other special schools and is above mainstream secondary schools. High quality accreditation and vocational experiences prepares those in Year 11 and in the sixth form extremely well for their futures and the world of work. A vibrant range of topics, subjects and experiences for all groups of pupils including a wide range of therapies, promotes their strong spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The headteacher has very high aspirations and a strong vision for the school. Senior leaders and managers place a high focus on improving staff performance through regular high quality training and checks on their work. The governing body has improved and now makes an excellent contribution to the school's effectiveness.

Governors regularly monitor the school's effectiveness through regular reports and visits to check teaching and learning. The quality of provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage is outstanding. The overall effectiveness of the sixth form is outstanding, preparing students exceptionally well for their futures.

Information about this school

The school caters for all-aged pupils from across Portsmouth and a few from surrounding counties. The vast majority have a statement of special educational needs for their severe, multiple or profound learning difficulties. About a third of pupils also have autism spectrum disorders, and/or sensory difficulties.

Almost all pupils are White British and a few pupils speak English as an additional language. There are far more boys than girls. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium (additional funding for certain groups, including pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those looked after by the local authority) is average.

The school has discrete provision for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage from the age of two. The sixth form has its own separate accommodation. Students have opportunities to undertake a wide range of accredited courses such as Entry Level qualifications and spend some of their time following vocational courses at the local St Vincent College, Gosport.