Mowbray School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils make good and sometimes outstanding progress in personal development.

This enables them to learn well. Teaching is good; some is outstanding. In most lessons, pupils learn well because they enjoy what teachers have planned for them to do.

The range of subjects and courses offered is carefully designed to meet the needs of each pupil. It is enriched by learning on the farm and visits and visitors. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make a good start to their learning because : they learn to communicate with everyone effectively.

Partnerships with the local community and other schools, especially through outdoor le...arning and sport, have a good effect on achievement. Pupils feel respected and well cared for. This is because staff ensure that pupils feel comfortable and confident at all times.

The headteacher has high expectations of everyone involved with the school and staff are encouraged and supported to improve their teaching. This is helping the school to continually improve. The governing body makes an excellent contribution to leadership by ensuring that all members involves themselves in what is happening in school.

This means that they have a firm grasp on how the school is improving. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Progress in English is not as good as it is in mathematics. In a few lessons, notably in the secondary department, more-able pupils are not challenged as effectively as other pupils.

Information about this school

The large majority of pupils has either moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs or autism. A small minority of students has either severe learning difficulties, physical needs, hearing impairment, or specific learning difficulties. A small minority has challenging behaviour as a result of behavioural, social or emotional difficulties.

The large majority of students is boys. All students have a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is well below average.

The proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is well below average. The proportions of students known to be eligible for pupil premium funding, which is extra money from the government to schools based on the numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals, pupils in the care of the local authority and those from families in the armed forces, is above average. There are four children in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Stability is well below average as the school draws from five military bases. The school runs an on-site farm and it is the base for the community school sports partnership. The school has recently attained National Autistic Society accreditation.