Ashgate Croft School

Overview

Ashgate Croft School continues to be an outstanding school, providing an exceptional quality of care and education for pupils with special educational needs. The report highlights a carefully designed curriculum that fosters independence, resilience, and high aspirations, supported by staff who treat pupils as individuals and maintain positive, productive relationships. Pupils feel happy, safe, and valued, thriving in an environment where their voices are encouraged and their specific needs are meticulously identified and met.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "carefully constructed" to help pupils gain knowledge, skills, and experiences required for "future learning and adult life."
• Staff have "extremely high expectations" and provide "exceptional quality of care," ensuring pupils behave well and feel supported.
• Pupils make "sustained progress across the curriculum," with staff using assessment skilfully to adapt delivery and shape learning.
• Post-16 students are prepared "exceedingly well" for their next steps, with almost all moving on to "purposeful and sustained destinations."
• The school promotes emotional well-being and healthy lifestyles, embedding British values and offering a "rich set of experiences" including clubs and community interactions.

Areas to improve

• The school is using strategies to improve attendance, as several pupils are absent for medical reasons, though rates are moving towards pre-pandemic levels.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.