Oak Field School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Students behave excellently and feel very safe in the supportive environment of this school.

Relationships are very positive. A very strong team of staff know all the students extremely well and their care is outstanding. They work together diligently to help all the students achieve extremely well.

Teaching is outstanding because staff have high aspirations for all the students, plan and prepare highly imaginative learning and provide extremely worthwhile and relevant experiences for them all. Leaders and managers, including governors, have an extremely accurate understanding of the school. They drive improvements effectively, i...ncluding those in teaching and achievement.

Leaders are purposeful and innovative. They use their excellent links with health professionals, local universities and local businesses for the benefit of all. Opportunities and experiences organised by the school have an excellent impact on the lives of current and previous students.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is outstanding because staff understand these children's needs very well. All the staff work very well together to provide very beneficial, imaginative and enjoyable activities for all. The sixth form is outstanding.

It is highly inclusive and new students settle very quickly. Activities are very practical and prepare all the students extremely well for life and learning, both now and in the future. The school building and site are attractive, very suitable for the students and extremely well kept.

Information about this school

Classes are organised across five key stages. These comprise of Early Years Foundation and Key Stage 1, then Years 3-6, 7-9, 10-11 and the Sixth Form, which is Years 12-14'. Students are generally taught in classes with others of similar ability and need.

At over half, the proportion of students who are known to be eligible for pupil premium funding is much higher than in most other schools. This is additional funding for specific groups of students, including those who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority. All the students have, or are being assessed for, statements of special educational needs.

Almost all have extensive, complex learning and physical disabilities. A high proportion of students, especially in the Early Years, have highly complex medical needs. The proportion of students who join the school at times other than the start of the Early Years Foundation Stage is higher than in most other schools.

About a third of students in the sixth form joined the school at the beginning of Year 12. Most students stay at the school until the end of Year 14. A high proportion of students are from a wide range of minority ethnic groups.

Almost all the students are at early stages of spoken language. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is also much higher than in most other schools. About ten per cent of the students are at early stages of learning English.

There have been several changes of staff since the previous inspection, including changes in several key stage or subject leaders. A very few students in Key Stage 1 are registered at both this school and Ferndown Infant school and Burford Junior School. Currently these pupils attend Oak Field three days each week and the mainstream schools for two.

A team of specialist health care professionals are based at the school this includes nurses, physiotherapists and a full time paediatric respiratory therapist, which is funded by the City Health Commissioners. The school runs outreach support for mainstream schools, their disabled students and those with special educational needs in the local authority. Staff advise 59 schools and support 11 students with complex needs in 10 schools weekly.