Newbridge School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school because: Teaching throughout the school is outstanding. There has been a steady improvement in the very high standards observed in the previous inspection. Teachers have an excellent understanding of their pupils' learning needs and adapt activities extremely effectively to enable each pupil to make the best possible progress.

Young children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make outstanding progress in their personal development, and in their communication skills. Pupils throughout the school achieve extremely well, particularly in their acquiring of communication, literacy and numeracy skills. They also make significant progress in gai...ning independence skills, and in their ability to make and indicate choices.

There are outstanding relationships. The pupils enjoy school and make every effort to attend regularly. There are very high standards of care to which the pupils respond well.

Pupils feel safe and secure and this has a positive impact on their behaviour and learning. The headteacher has led the development of an outstanding leadership team. Together, they continually monitor and improve on standards of teaching and pupils' progress.

Teaching and non-teaching staff are committed to ensuring each pupil achieves as well as possible. Morale at the school is very high. Governors are well informed about the progress of pupils and the standards of teaching.

They provide a high level of support and challenge to the school based on detailed knowledge of the school's workings.

Information about this school

The school, which is on two sites, provides for pupils with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties. Pupils from the age of two to 14 years are educated at the Gresham Drive campus and pupils aged 14 to 19 at the Barley Lane campus.

There is no specific sixth form provision. Students aged 16 to 19 are taught in mixed groups, together with pupils aged 14 to 16, a curriculum which caters for the whole age range, according to their individual learning, personal and health needs. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs.

Many pupils in addition have chronic, complex health difficulties which can significantly inhibit their school attendance. There are about equal numbers of boys and girls. Over three quarters of the school population are from minority ethnic groups, reflecting the make up of the borough.

Almost two thirds of pupils speak English as an additional language. Nearly half of the pupils are supported by the pupil premium (additional funding provided for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, children looked after by the local authority, and children of service families). The school provides an outreach service to other schools in the local authority as well as managing a further proportion of the local authority's special educational needs support service.