Thomasson Memorial School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The newly appointed headteacher, with the strong support of senior leaders, has set a clear direction for the school.

There is a very positive 'can do' approach in all aspects of the school's work, particularly in lessons. The current review of staffing is seeking to establish a restructured leadership and management team to see the school move towards even greater achievements. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is never less than good.

Teachers are keen to share best practices and to benefit from any feedback they receive from senior leaders. Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, make good progress from low starti...ng points, particularly in language and communication. When pupils leave at the end of their secondary education, all move on to further education at local colleges.

The most able pupils achieve up to five GCSEs including mathematics and English. The curriculum is broad and enriching. Pupils who have hearing impairment (HI) are encouraged at an early stage to develop their language and communication skills alongside those in literacy and numeracy.

Pupils' personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. They have wonderful attitudes to learning.

They are polite and courteous at all times. They take on responsibilities willingly, for example if asked to take charge of recycling paper or when taking on the role of house team captain. The provision for early years is good.

Children settle quickly to become confident and independent. Staff work well as a team and ensure that they get to know the children, including through effective systems for assessment and checking progress. Children are happy and safe in this provision.

Children who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities, including HI, are included well. Governors have overseen a number of changes with success. They are ambitious for the school and are at the early stages of developing partnership working with a local secondary school so that provision and outcomes for secondary-age pupils can be improved.

Work is also underway to develop 'The Lighthouse' (new key stage 3 provision for pupils who have more complex needs). In addition, they see the benefits in sharing best practices with a local primary school.

Information about this school

The school is central to the service for the sensory impaired within the local authority.

In addition to pupils from Bolton, the school currently provides for pupils from Blackburn with Darwen, Bury, Lancashire, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Trafford, Warrington, Wigan and Blackpool. The school has undergone a number of changes over the past two years. The Nursery classes are now governor-led, which has resulted in staffing and funding changes.

The hearing children in the Nursery are from the Bolton area. The school has taken 22 secondary-age pupils onto its roll, these pupils being based at the Sharples Academy. The primary site has added a small key stage 3 class that meets the needs of pupils who have HI and additional complex learning and behaviour difficulties.

The school's secondary pupils do not attend any alternative provision. The headteacher is newly appointed, having been in an acting capacity since September 2017. A staffing review is currently underway, resulting from recent changes in the school's designation to meeting the needs of pupils aged 11–16 years.

The use of oral communication or Sign Supported English is integral to the school's teaching, learning and assessment approaches. Pupils have access to regular audiological assessments. Social links have been established with Devonshire Road County Primary School.

Pupils are mainly of White British heritage, although the proportions from minority ethnic backgrounds and of those who speak English as an additional language are higher than the national average. The vast majority of pupils have EHC plans. The school has a higher than average proportion of disadvantaged pupils.