Stocklake Park Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. School leaders are ambitious for their students.

They have ensured that teaching has improved over time and that appropriate learning programmes are in place for all students. Students' behaviour is outstanding. They are extremely caring of each other and of their school environment.

They enjoy coming to school and say that they feel very safe. Teaching is typically good. Teachers use their understanding of the needs of each student to plan activities which will help them learn more.

They are supported well by their assistants. Students make good progress from their low starting points. Almost all make the progress expected of t...hem and sometimes they do even better than their teachers anticipate.

The good sixth form helps to prepare students for the next phase of their lives and learning because : teachers plan programmes which students find relevant and interesting. Members of the governing body provide good support. They visit regularly, question school leaders, and ensure that a sharp focus is maintained on getting even better.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Middle leadership is not as strong in a few subjects where the curriculum has not been thoroughly and effectively planned to meet students' needs, for example design and technology. Teachers do not always use students' responses to their questions to shape the next part of the learning, which means that students are not always fully stretched.

Information about this school

The school forms the secondary special school part of The Vale Federation.

There is one governing body for the schools in the federation. The primary special school member of the federation is on a site elsewhere in the town and was inspected separately at the same time. Three of the four sixth form classes are based in a converted house approximately four miles away from the main school site.

The other sixth form class is based at the main site. The school provides an education for students who have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. The proportion of students who have an autistic spectrum condition has increased over time.

Students do not attend alternative provision. A higher than average number of students come from homes where English is spoken as an additional language. Approximately 15% of students come from a Pakistani background.

The number of students eligible to receive funding made available by the pupil premium is above the national average. This is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority. Therapists work alongside teachers to plan programmes for students.