Chatsworth High School and Community College

Overview

Chatsworth High School and Community College is described as a “welcoming, joyful place where pupils flourish.” The inspection confirms the school has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection,” where it was judged outstanding. Staff provide skilful support for pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), fostering a calm environment where learners feel “understood, nurtured and safe.”

Strengths

• The curriculum is “carefully designed to allow pupils to develop knowledge securely,” with tailored pathways meeting the wide range of pupils’ SEND.
• Pupils benefit from “skilful support to regulate their emotions,” enabling them to learn in a calm environment and return to learning quickly after distress.
• “Preparation for adulthood is a golden thread woven through all aspects of school life,” including effective careers guidance and work experience.
• Staff help pupils develop communication skills using “pictures, symbols and signing,” ensuring their voices are heard and needs are shared effectively.
• The trust has successfully addressed previous leadership instability, with most staff now feeling “well supported” and welcoming increased consideration of workload.

Areas to improve

• Some staff do not take “sufficient account of pupils’ individual plans and starting points when they design activities,” which hinders progress for some pupils.
• The school should ensure staff receive “appropriate guidance and support to enable them to use this information effectively” to meet EHC plan objectives.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”