Richard Cloudesley School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Teaching throughout the school is almost always outstanding and never less than good. Teachers and other adults demonstrate exceptional skills in providing for the needs of individual pupils.

Teachers have very high expectations of each pupil's achievement in both academic skills and in their personal development. Pupils' learning is adapted most effectively to ensure each pupil makes rapid and sustained progress. Adults continually check pupils' progress within each lesson to capture each small step in achievement.

Adults are very well trained and make excellent use of the communication systems employed at the school to promote ...the pupils' understanding and to demonstrate when they have understood or are finding difficulty with the tasks they are set. The pupils throughout the school, including the Early Years Foundation Stage and the sixth form, make outstanding progress. A large minority of pupils achieve at significantly higher levels than those expected of pupils with similar learning difficulties.

Pupils make excellent progress in reading, writing and mathematics. This is as a result of exceptional provision throughout the curriculum (the subjects taught) to teach these skills. The curriculum has been most effectively adapted to provide pupils with activities precisely focused on their learning needs and abilities.

The school ensures that pupils make excellent progress in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. Pupils love their school and establish strong relationships with their friends and adults.

Pupils say that they feel safe and secure and as a result, their attendance is above average. It has shown consistent improvement since the previous inspection, despite the necessary frequent hospital visits of some children. The headteacher leads an outstanding senior team and is well supported by governors.

Together, they are exceptionally effective in maintaining and improving on the already very high standards of teaching and achievement found in the previous inspection. Governors have a detailed knowledge of the school's work. They provide a very strong level of challenge and support to the school's leaders.

Information about this school

The school provides for pupils with severe learning, physical and associated medical difficulties. A majority of pupils have profound and multiple learning difficulties. All the pupils have a statement of special educational needs.

There are broadly equal numbers of boys and girls. The school attracts pupils from a wide area and pupils come from up to eight neighbouring boroughs. A very high proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds reflecting the make up of the borough.

About half the pupils speak English as an additional language. A very high proportion of the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional government funding for pupils entitled to free school meals or who are looked after. All Year 7 pupils qualify for 'catch-up' funding.

The school also receives additional government 'sports funding'. There are two sites which are about one mile apart. Primary aged pupils are taught on one site and secondary pupils on the other.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage attend full time. A new headteacher and deputy headteacher took up their posts in September 2014. The school operates an outreach service for mainstream schools in the borough.