Selly Oak Trust School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The passionate and committed leadership of the headteacher, with the support of his team, ensures that pupils receive a good and improving standard of education at this school.

The strong and skilled governing body knows the school very well. It holds leaders to account, challenging and supporting in equal measure. It has been instrumental in establishing the shared vision for the school.

Leadership at all levels has been strengthened since the last inspection resulting in a highly skilled, supportive team that helps to drive further improvement. Staff speak highly of the training opportunities they receive. The progress pupils make from ...their starting points enables them to achieve excellent outcomes.

Disadvantaged pupils make similar, and sometimes better, progress than other pupils. The well-organised and balanced curriculum allows pupils to access a wide range of accreditation from ASDAN and entry level qualifications to GCSEs. Staff provide an outstanding level of care and support for pupils through a well-organised pastoral support system.

They know the pupils extremely well and tailor support and intervention to meet individual needs. The outstanding 16 to 19 provision ensures that students continue to build on their achievements in key stage 4 and gain additional qualifications. Students access high-quality work experience, supported internships and a range of volunteering opportunities.

Teaching is good and improving. Lessons are often engaging and planned effectively so that pupils are learning well. However, in some lessons, teachers do not set work which matches the ability of the pupils.

As a result, some pupils are not challenged sufficiently to make even better progress. Pupils are safe at this school and the majority say that they are happy and enjoy school. The school's system for measuring progress is beginning to embed but requires further refinement.

Pupils' behaviour is usually good and staff help pupils learn how to regulate their behaviour. However, some pupils are not yet able to control their behaviour sufficiently well, so leaders continue to use fixed-term exclusions and a small number of permanent exclusions. Leaders are working hard to improve pupils' attendance and good attendance is celebrated.

However, actions to improve attendance are not having enough of an impact and school attendance rates remain stubbornly low.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. Selly Oak is a large secondary special school.

All the pupils have an education, health and care plan or a statement of special educational needs. Selly Oak is a foundation trust school supported by The Real Life 4 Me Trust. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is higher than the national average.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is above average. The majority of pupils are White British. The remainder come from a variety of backgrounds, the largest being Pakistani heritage.

The school has a sixth form. Some students follow programmes of study at registered local colleges: Bournville College, South and City College, Queen Alexandra College and Southside College. The school is one of 12 secondary schools which form the Oaks Collegiate.

Two years ago, the school admitted 10 Year 5 pupils in response to a demand for places in the local authority. This was arranged through a service level agreement with the local authority, but is not continuing. In September, there will be no key stage 2 pupils.