St Martins School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher's vision and actions are inspirational. Together with the deputy headteacher, senior leaders and governors, she works with absolute determination in order for each child to succeed.

The school is a calm and happy place of learning. Staff give pupils the self-confidence to try new things and achieve success. Pupils' personal development is excellent because : leaders and all staff work together very effectively.

Parents value the excellent support that the school provides to them and their families. They say the staff are 'amazing' and 'go the extra mile'. Pupils' behaviour is impeccable.

They have exemplar...y attitudes towards their learning. Relationships between staff and pupils are exceptionally strong. Pupils say they feel safe and secure.

Pupils make excellent progress across the curriculum, including in reading, writing and mathematics, often from low starting points. All groups of pupils perform exceptionally well. This is because of outstanding teaching and assessment.

Learning is tailored closely to pupils' needs. They are very well prepared for the next stage of their education, training or employment. The school's creative curriculum is outstanding.

It contributes to pupils' excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and their understanding of life in modern Britain. As a result, pupils engage enthusiastically in a wide range of subjects, including outdoor education. Governors are hugely proud of their school and have very high aspirations.

They regularly challenge leaders to ensure that the quality of teaching and pupils' rates of progress remain outstanding. The school's own well-being team provides excellent support to pupils and their families and has strong working partnerships with a range of agencies. This has a very positive impact on pupils' personal development and readiness to learn.

The school places safeguarding at the heart of its work. Safeguarding arrangements are very thorough. Staff are well aware of the procedures to follow and pupils are looked after exceptionally well.

Post-16 provision at Horizons is outstanding. Leaders base their 'Shaping Futures' curriculum firmly around the practical skills and attributes required for the world of work. As a result, students are able to achieve a wide range of accreditation.

Leaders recognise the need to further develop courses for the lower-attaining students.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. St Martins is a secondary special school for pupils who have a wide range of special educational needs.

These include moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. A few pupils have physical difficulties. The increasing number of pupils with autistic spectrum disorder and complex needs are taught in the department known as Galaxy for a substantial part of their timetable.

.The vast majority of post-16 students are taught at the school's provision known as Horizons, which is situated in the city centre. Students' learning is centred on work skills, work placements, functional skills and enterprise training.

The school works with Derby College and the alternative provider, Junction 16, to provide practical experiences and a range of accreditation. All pupils are supported by a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan. The school is located on the Derwent Campus, on the edge of Derby City, alongside a mainstream secondary academy.

St Martins has very recently benefited from the addition of its own new reception area, enabling easy access and egress and providing a sense of ownership for staff and pupils..Over half of the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium funding.

.The school is a teaching school and founder member of the Derby Teaching Schools Alliance, and the headteacher is a national leader of education (NLE). The school benefits from collaboration within the alliance and provides support to mainstream and special schools.