Oak Lodge School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Excellent teamwork, extensive experience and deep understanding of individual needs ensure that all the students achieve extremely well and thrive at the school. Teaching is excellent because there is a very strong emphasis on continual professional development and research, which ensures that all staff are continually extending their understanding and skills.

Students have very good opportunities to learn from a wide range of activities throughout the school, including a very high number of out-of-school visits. Lessons are planned very well to provide a wide variety of experiences which students enjoy and engage with exceptionally well.... The sixth form is outstanding.

It is highly engaging and relevant, helping students' achievement, and the development of skills for later life. Behaviour and safety are exceedingly good. Given their starting points, students develop very high levels of confidence, initiative and choice.

Relationships throughout the school are excellent. Leaders and managers, including governors, are extremely effective. They use their very detailed understanding of the school and high levels of skill extremely well to drive continuous improvement to the benefit of all.

Information about this school

All the students have statements of special educational needs for moderate or severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders or complex needs. There are more boys than girls. At over 50%, the proportion of students who are known to be eligible for pupil premium funding is higher than the national average.

This is additional funding for specific groups of students, in this case, those who are looked after or who are known to be eligible for free school meals. At over 60% the proportion of students from a very wide range of minority ethnic backgrounds is much higher than in most other schools. About a third of these students speak English as an additional language, this proportion being higher than in most other schools.

The school manages a franchised provision on a separate site for post-19 students on behalf of Barnet & Southgate College. This was not included in this inspection. The school has National Autistic Society (NAS) accreditation and is a National Support School.