Parkwood Hall Co-Operative Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. School leaders know their school well because : they regularly monitor the quality of teaching and carefully check on everyone's progress.

Governors have a clear vision for the school. They ensure that all its resources are used effectively to help students achieve as much as possible. Students' behaviour is good.

They are positive in lessons and show care and respect for each other and for the school environment at all times. Teaching is typically good. Teachers regularly check students' progress.

They plan lessons which have a close focus on helping each individual to learn more. The school's work to keep students safe is good.... Students feel safe and are well supported by the staff.

From their low starting points, students make good progress. Some do so well that they attain good Entry Level passes or qualifications in the Open College Network programme. Good teaching in the sixth form helps to prepare students very well for the next phases of their lives and learning.

The school meets the national minimum standards for residential special schools. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Opportunities for learning in colleges and in the wider community are not widely available to all students in the sixth form. Teachers and their assistants do not use signing consistently in all lessons and activities.

Record keeping in a few areas of safeguarding and student welfare for residential students is not of the highest possible quality.

Information about this school

Parkwood Hall is a special school for students aged 8 to 19. The school has very recently become a trust school, with foundation school status.

The school's partner local authority, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, places a very few students at the school. Other students have homes in neighbouring authorities in the south-east and in London. Approximately one third of students attend as weekly boarders.

Others travel to school from home each day. The proportion of students who are supported by the pupil premium is well above the national average. This is additional funding for students who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.

About one third of students are from backgrounds which are other than White British. A few have homes where English is not the main language. The school makes use of alternative provision at West Kent College, Tonbridge for a small number of students in Year 14.

There have been a number of changes on the school's governing body since the previous inspection. The Chair of Governors took up his post at the beginning of this term. The main school building and residences are set in extensive grounds.