Tweendykes School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Pupils make exceptional progress academically, socially and emotionally. This is because overall the quality of teaching is outstanding, as is the care and support offered by staff. However, in a very small number of lessons, teachers do not deploy support staff's time sufficiently well to support pupils' learning and so their learning slows at these times.

Children who arrive in the Early Years Foundation Stage have a wide range of different needs including learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Staff provide an excellent range of experiences and activities which enable them to achieve very well. The newly e...stablished sixth form is outstanding.

Students undertake a wide range of courses, activities and work experience opportunities. As a result, they are making excellent progress towards a range of qualifications and are very well prepared for the next stage in education or, for some, the world of work. Despite the problems faced by the majority of pupils, behaviour overall is outstanding.

This is because of the excellent work of the communication team which supports pupils to develop their communication skills which in turn improve their ability to manage their behaviour. The outstanding leadership of the headteacher, senior leaders, managers and governors is sustaining the first-class quality of teaching and pupils' excellent achievement has continued. This clearly demonstrates the school's ability to continue to improve.

Information about this school

Tweendykes is a community special school. Pupils attend between the ages of three and 19 and have a range of difficulties which affect their ability to learn. Around 40% of pupils have a diagnosis of ASD and a further 10% have profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Most of the 120 pupils who attend are from Hull. Eleven come from the East Riding of Yorkshire, a neighbouring authority. Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the leadership with the appointment of a new assistant headteacher and two middle leaders.

Most pupils are of White British heritage, with just a small number from other ethnic backgrounds. A higher than average number of pupils is eligible for the pupil premium which provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those in the care of the local authority. All pupils who attend have a statement of special educational needs.

The school currently has an extended school provision which provides a range of activities and clubs for pupils and families outside school time. Since the last inspection, the school has moved to purpose-built premises on a site which it shares with a secondary school. The school expects its conversion to academy status to be complete by April 2013.

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