Newbridge Learning Community

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Achievement is good. Students make good progress, often from low starting points. Attainment nearly always improves even though most students leave with below average qualifications.

Achievement in English is outstanding. The school stands out as a beacon of excellence in the teaching and learning of literacy skills. Writing is especially good.

Teaching is good. It has improved since the last inspection because the people who run the school have paid good attention to make sure that this is the case. Staff help students to develop good spiritual, moral, social and cultural values.

Most students rediscover a sense of pri...de in their achievements, grow in confidence and learn how to get on better with other people. The Pupil and Family Partnership Team plays any important part in helping students and their parents to make the best of the support that is available to them. Leadership and management are good.

A school with a single identity has been created from two very different ones. Leaders and managers are now refocusing on how to maintain the improvements in teaching and students' achievement as the school faces more staffing changes and re-structuring. Governors provide appropriate support and challenge Students behave well in class and the school places a high level of importance on teaching them how to avoid dangerous situations.

Most students attend reasonably well but a few remain very hard to keep in touch with. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Achievement in mathematics and science falls short of the excellence seen in literacy because teaching is not as strong and progress is slower. Leaders, managers and governors do not fully succeed in making sure that they get the best value for money out of all teachers.

Extra funding for groups of students recognised as underachieving is sometimes diluted because the governing body feels that all students have difficulties and disadvantages and are, therefore, equally deserving of a share.

Information about this school

This is a school for students who have difficulties relating to their behavioural, emotional and social development. Most students are boys.

Many more students than average are known to be eligible for the pupil premium (extra money for those known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority). Many are involved with mental health and youth offending teams. All students have a statement of special educational needs.

The large majority of pupils are White British. Some students spend part of their timetable with alternative providers, mainly with 'CAST NW' and 'Fix It'. Both were visited during the inspection.