St Rose’s Special School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. St Rose's is a good school where pupils enjoy life and thrive.

Most pupils make at least good progress. Some make outstanding progress given the level of their complex learning and medical needs. For some pupils, the maintenance of their current skills is a significant achievement for them.

Pupils make good progress in developing their communication and mobility skills. The range of subjects and experiences pupils are offered is excellent. Teaching is good.

Staff have a clear understanding of the needs of pupils and the seamless work between education, care and therapists is excellent. This allows pupils to maximise learning opp...ortunities. Leaders, managers and governors have ensured that pupils are taught well and achieve well.

The school is continuing to improve and adapt to meet the changing needs of pupils. The behaviour of pupils is outstanding. They behave exceptionally well in and around the school.

In lessons they are enthusiastic learners and enjoy communicating with visitors in their own way using non-verbal methods or communication devices. Parents and carers hold the school in high regard. They are confident their children are safe and looked after well.

One parent or carer commented, 'It is a fantastic school with brilliant staff and we would be lost without it.' Pupils' spiritual, moral social and cultural development is strongly promoted through the Catholic and Christian the school's values, attitudes and beliefs. The celebration of festivals and participation in sporting events provide richness and promote pupils' wider experiences.

The sixth form is good. The programmes of study that students follow are highly appropriate to their needs and interests. Much of the work is practically based and prepares them for their next stage of life well.

It is not yet an outstanding school because: Not enough teaching is outstanding across the school. The school has not sought some additional funding to which it is entitled to further promote pupils' progress and achievement.

Information about this school

St Rose's Special School is a non-maintained Roman Catholic school for pupils with severe, complex, profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Day pupils attend from Gloucestershire and neighbouring local authorities. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. The school does not receive additional government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority, or the Year 7 catch-up funding.

The Early Years Foundation Stage, the post-19 provision and boarding provision were not inspected as part of this inspection. They were last inspected by Ofsted's Children's Directorate in January 2014, October 2013 and February 2014 respectively. The headteacher has had prolonged periods of absence and was absent from the school during the time of the inspection.