Oakgrove School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Oakgrove transforms its pupils' chances of school success. Pupils arrive having had a poor start to their education.

They leave with good prospects. A high proportion of pupils re-join mainstream schools. Pupils' learning is good and improving.

In 2012 pupils made as much progress as that expected of pupils in mainstream schools and some achieved high standards in the national tests for 11-year-olds. The school is well led and managed by the headteacher and his team. Excellent partnerships with the local authority's behaviour support service, parents and with the adjacent Outwood Primary School make a very positive contribution to what t...he school provides for its pupils.

However, governance requires improvement. Pupils flourish in this welcoming, nurturing school. They feel safe.

They become much more confident and more able to manage their behaviour and relationships with others. Parents are very positive about the improvements they see in their children. Teaching is good.

Staff are expert at managing pupils' behaviour. They focus sharply on improving pupils' reading, writing and mathematics, broadening their horizons and giving them opportunities to shine. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet as good as it might be.

The governing body does not provide the leaders of the school with sufficient support and challenge.

Information about this school

The school provides for primary-age pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Each pupil has a statement of special educational needs.

Pupils may be admitted to the school from Stockport primary schools at any stage in their primary education. On average, pupils spend less than three years at Oakgrove. The school works in partnership with the local authority's behaviour support service, which has its base in the school.

It also works with the adjacent Outwood Primary School. Some Oakgrove pupils are taught at Outwood although they remain on Oakgrove's roll. The great majority of pupils are boys of White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is very high. The school receives the pupil premium, which is additional government funding for these pupils and for those in the care of the local authority. At the time of the inspection the deputy headteacher was absent and her duties were being covered by an acting deputy headteacher.