St John’s RC School (Essex)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher and strong team of senior and subject leaders have rapidly improved the school since the previous inspection. Pupils make good progress in all subjects, especially in communication, reading and mathematics, because their individual needs are met well.

Teaching is exciting and well planned. It enables all pupils to make good progress. Pupils with autistic spectrum condition and severe learning difficulties make particularly good progress.

The planning and teaching of reading by linking letters to the sounds they make has improved. This has led to rapid improvements in reading for all pupils, especially those with moderate ...learning difficulties. Additional adults make a very strong contribution to learning in lessons through their support for pupils' academic, medical and physical needs.

Pupils behave well. There have been very few incidents of unacceptable behaviour, such as bullying, in the last three years. The school provides many opportunities for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, especially through well-led, inspiring assemblies and educational visits.

The sixth form is good. Students develop independent living skills and grow in confidence and self-esteem. This prepares them well for their next steps in life.

The trustees and governing body work well together to check the quality of teaching and pupils' progress. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not as good in Key Stages 1 and 2 as it is in the rest of the school because : lessons are not always planned to match pupils' differing abilities. Improvement in pupils' achievement in writing is slower than in reading and mathematics at Key Stage 4.

Teachers do not always ensure that more able pupils learn as much as they can. Teachers' marking does not always help pupils to understand how to improve their work. The school's leaders do not check pupils' progress information against national results rigorously enough.

Information about this school

St John's provides mostly for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication difficulties, autistic spectrum condition, and severe learning difficulties. Small numbers have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, and physical difficulties. All pupils have statements of special educational needs.

Pupils come from a wide area including 10 local authorities, nine of which are in Inner London. Most pupils join the school in Key Stage 3 and the sixth form. A small number of pupils are in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Almost half of the pupils have been at St John's for less than four years. The proportions of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and for whom English is an additional language are high. The school does not receive any extra money through the pupil premium.

This is additional funding for certain pupils including those known to be eligible for free school meals and those looked after by their local authority. St John's does not use any other schools or locations to provide education for its pupils. A new headteacher and two assistant headteachers have been appointed since the previous inspection.