Strathmore School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Senior leaders have developed very clear aims for the school and have very high expectations of both staff and pupils. The governing body is especially effective. Very well informed governors challenge school leaders and hold them to account.

The governing body and leaders have maintained good quality teaching and high standards since the last inspection despite the increased school roll and a high turnover of staff. The school is very well placed to build further on this success. Teaching is good across the school and so pupils learn well in lessons.

Pupils make good progress from their starting points and so their achievement ...is typically higher than that of similar pupils nationally. All groups of pupils achieve equally well. The achievement of pupils who are eligible for additional funding is the same as other pupils in the school.

Pupils' behaviour is outstanding, and pupils have an excellent attitude to school and to their learning. Their attendance is high. Excellent safeguarding procedures ensure pupils' safety when in school and in the community.

Pupils confirm that they feel safe in school. Pupils are well prepared for leaving school. Many make very good progress in developing self-help and other personal skills, such as using public transport independently.

This enables them to use community facilities and to seek employment. The school has very good provision for preparing pupils to live in modern Britain. Pupils learn about different communities and the differences between people, as well as the need to respect the rights and feelings of others.

Pupils are very well cared for and looked after. There are excellent relationships throughout the school and pupils are treated with dignity. A range of therapists make a very significant contribution to pupils' physical well-being and personal development.

This supports pupils' learning in lessons. The provision for post-16 students is good. They are well prepared for moving into adulthood.

Effective links with partners provide good additional learning opportunities for pupils. Very good links with parents and carers ensure that families are supported and involved in their children's education. The staff show unanimous support for the school.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet of the highest quality to result in pupils making excellent progress. Middle managers do not do enough to support leaders' drive for excellence. Not enough of them fulfil their additional responsibilities effectively.

Information about this school

Strathmore is a small special school for pupils with complex and severe learning difficulties. Around half of the pupils also have autism. Pupils attend the school from four local authorities in addition to Richmond.

All pupils have a statement of special educational needs, and around two-thirds of them are boys. The school receives pupil premium funding for about a quarter of its pupils, which is broadly in line with the national average. Pupil premium is additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for children who are looked after.

The school also receives additional funding for primary school physical education and sport. Pupils have a range of ethnic backgrounds, with White British being the predominant group. About one in three pupils are at an early stage of learning English, although all pupils have communication difficulties.

The number of pupils has increased by more than half since the last inspection. This resulted in additional classes being established and new staff being appointed. The majority of teachers have been appointed since the last inspection.

There have also been changes in the leadership team. The deputy headteacher who was in post at the time of the last inspection has since left, and the two assistant headteachers at that time have been promoted to deputy headteachers. An almost entirely new governing body was appointed following the last inspection.

The Chair is a National College Leader in School Governance. The school has established partnerships with Richmond-upon-Thames College, Grey Court School and the neighbouring Russell School. The school performs a community role in providing support, guidance and training to staff in local schools about working with pupils with learning difficulties.