St Francis Special School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The atmosphere in all parts of the school is calm and welcoming and adults provide excellent care and support for all pupils. Staff show that they highly value every pupil and give them all an equal opportunity to succeed.

Consequently, pupils achieve well from their very low starting points in a good range of subjects. Teaching is consistently good at all key stages. Teaching and learning are continually improving because senior staff identify weaknesses and provide good training for staff which has had a significant impact.

The sixth form is good. Sixth form pupils make good progress and are given many opportunites to prepare for life ...after school. The school has introduced rigorous checks on learning that provide a clear picture of pupils' progress.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. Safeguarding arrangements enable pupils to feel extremely safe at all times of the day. All leaders, together with the governing body, focus successfully on raising pupils' achievement.

Through the skilful work of all staff, pupils' attendance improves significantly, often from a low starting point on admission. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet leading to outstanding progress for pupils. In a small minority of lessons the pace of learning is too slow, and the exciting, creative, curriculum is not yet being fully implemented to enable pupils to make the best progress they can.

Not all opportunities are taken for best practice to be fully shared as a means of improving teaching further. Staff with responsibilities do not have a full enough role in ensuring that planned improvements are quickly and firmly established.

Information about this school

St Francis provides education for pupils who have severe, complex or profound and multiple learning difficulties.

All pupils have a statement of special educational needs. Many pupils have additional disabilities including sensory impairment, physical difficulties, epilepsy, autism and challenging behaviour. A high proportion of the pupils are known to be eligible for the pupil premium (additional funding provided by the government), above the national average for all schools.

The overwhelming majority of pupils have a White British heritage. There are broadly equal numbers of boys and girls. The school's sixth form is accommodated in a purpose-built post-16 education centre.

The school's nursery provision is within the main school building. The school is on the same site as a junior and separate infant school, and another special school. The school has been awarded Artsmark Gold for its creative provision.

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