Rachel Madocks School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good and sometimes excellent progress, particularly in their communication skills and personal development. All pupils share a real keenness to learn. Teaching is good.

Staff are skilled in helping pupils overcome barriers to their learning caused by communication difficulties or other additional needs. Pupils are considerate and respectful to one another in and out of lessons. They feel safe and secure in school.

This is because the staff manage behaviour consistently well. The sixth form is good. Students make good progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their adult lives.

Children get off to ...a good start in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Staff provide well-planned activities and experiences for children. The development of pupils' social, moral, spiritual and cultural development is excellent.

The headteacher, with strong support from the deputy headteacher and senior staff, has shown determination in checking and improving the quality of teaching. This has ensured that the increasing complexity of pupils' needs is met. The governing body has a good understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development.

It challenges and supports leaders well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Occasionally, teachers do not move the pupils on quickly enough to new learning. Work set for pupils is not always set at the right level.

The range of courses on offer, including at GCSE where appropriate, needs to be increased, particularly for the most able pupils.

Information about this school

All pupils have a statement of special educational needs, with over a third having profound and multiple learning difficulties. A high proportion of pupils have severe learning difficulties, including an increasing number with a diagnosis of autism.

Other groups include those with sensory, physical, and complex health care needs. The majority of pupils are White British boys. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is very low, and there are no pupils new to speaking English.

The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the additional government funding, known as the pupil premium, is well above average. This funding is for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after. There are no Year 7 pupils on roll.

There have been Year 7 pupils in previous years). The school does not enter pupils early for examinations. The older pupils experience work-related opportunities at the Acorn Community Centre, Hampshire.