Springhead School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development flourishes in this outstanding school, which since the time of the last inspection has gone from strength to strength. Regardless of their starting points, age or background, pupils now make securely good progress and for most, it is outstanding. By the time they leave school, students attain many awards, celebrating their excellent achievements.

The sixth form is outstanding and effectively builds upon the excellent practice in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. One reason why pupils learn well is that so much of the teaching they receive is outstanding. Teachers and support st...aff share their passion for learning and provide exciting work for pupils to do in lessons.

Behaviour around the school is impeccable. Pupils are friendly and kind towards one another. A good sense of humour, between pupils and staff, permeates through the school.

Pupils display outstanding attitudes to learning and concentrate very hard to achieve well. They are encouraged to solve problems together and delight in the success of their friends. Following the last inspection, school leaders acted swiftly to address all the areas for improvement.

Many of these have now become strengths within the school, including the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement. The headteacher provides determined leadership, promoting an uncompromising focus on continuous improvement. She offers teachers, parents, governors and pupils a very clear vision of what an outstanding school should be.

She has established highly effective senior and middle leadership teams. Together, they are ambitious – determined that this safe and caring school continues to improve. Robust procedures, now firmly established, provide leaders with a very clear view of what is working well and what can be better still.

Highly experienced governors carry out their duties exceptionally well to ensure all pupils receive the best possible education and care. Leaders have recently developed a new way of teaching English and mathematics for students in the sixth form. Currently too few students attain externally recognised awards in these subjects.

Information about this school

Springhead School is a specialist school for cognition and learning. Pupils have a wide range of learning needs, including severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). Many also have a broad range of additional needs such as autism or complex medical needs.

A number also present challenging behavioural difficulties. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for support through the pupil premium is much higher than average.

(The pupil premium is additional government funding provided for children who are looked after by the local authority and those known to be eligible for free school meals.) Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage and two primary classes are taught in specialist classrooms adjacent to The Hinderwell Primary Academy. Students in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are taught in the main school and also attend regular sessions at a multi-sensory off-site provision (The Learning Zone).

Students in the sixth form are either taught in the main school or in an off-site provision (The Street). Leaders have recently established a transition class to help students move from Key Stage 4 to the sixth form. During the summer term, the school leases a beach hut to convert into an outdoor classroom.