Cloughside College

Overview

Cloughside College continues to be a good school, providing education for pupils with special educational needs and mental health issues who are patients in hospital. The report highlights that pupils develop "nurturing and trusting relationships with staff" and benefit from a "personalised and flexible curriculum" delivered in partnership with health professionals.

Strengths

• Staff provide "wraparound care and support" that helps pupils recover and improve their confidence, communication, and interaction with others.
• The school maintains "high expectations of pupils’ achievements," resulting in pupils achieving well from their individual starting points.
• Subject curriculums are "designed well," with knowledge built in a logical order, and staff effectively address gaps in pupil understanding.
• Pupils have "rich opportunities to participate in a range of therapies and activities," such as art and yoga, which help reduce stress and anxiety.
• The school manages risk very well, creating a "calm and orderly atmosphere" where pupils feel happy and safe.

Areas to improve

• A small number of staff lack aspects of subject knowledge required to deliver curriculum content well, which occasionally hinders pupil achievement.
• Some older pupils have limited opportunities for work-related placements, though the school is taking steps to strengthen the work-experience programme.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.