The Bridge School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. • The school is highly inclusive. It has excellent provision for all groups of students, whatever their starting points and particular learning, communication or behavioural needs.

• All groups of students achieve exceptionally well throughout the school because staff know them all extremely well and tailor activities to meet their widely differing needs. • Teaching is excellent. Students have a very wide range of activities and lessons and staff have high expectations for them all.

• Behaviour and safety are excellent. There are marked improvements in the behaviour of all students, including those who are the most challenging. S...taff are extremely patient, calm and positive and provide an excellent role model for all.

• Leadership and management are outstanding. All aspects of the school's work are checked extremely effectively and leaders at all levels use their exceedingly accurate understanding of the school to drive improvements. • Leaders' accurate understanding of the school has led to a wide range of plans to improve information to, and engagement of, parents and carers.

These plans are well focused to extend existing information to parents and carers and increase the numbers who are already highly involved and engaged in the school and their children's learning. • Governors are effective and reflect very carefully on the quality of their own work. They have very recently reorganised the way they work so that they are even more effective in supporting leaders and driving improvement.

• Children in the Nursery and Reception classes have an excellent start to their schooling because staff have high expectations of what they can achieve and their needs are met extremely well. • The sixth form is excellent. Students have extensive opportunities to experience life outside school.

These successfully help prepare them for their next steps in later life and learning.

Information about this school

• All the students have statements of special educational needs for learning difficulties. In the vast majority of cases these learning difficulties are severe.

A high proportion of students also have autistic spectrum disorders, communication difficulties, challenging behaviour and complex needs. There are about four times more boys than girls. • At over 60%, the proportion of students who are known to be eligible for pupil premium funding is much higher than the national average.

This is additional funding for specific groups of students, in this case, those who are looked after or who are known to be eligible for free school meals. • At over 80%, the proportion of students from over 32 different minority ethnic backgrounds is much higher than in most other schools. Just overt half of these students speak English as an additional language; this proportion is higher than in most other schools.

• The school manages and employs staff in inclusion classes in Hungerford Primary School and St Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington. • The school is a National Teaching School with a Training Centre. The headteacher is a national leader for education.