Crosshill Special School

Overview

Pupils describe the school as a "happy and safe place" where they "love coming" and behave "exceptionally well." Leaders have designed an "ambitious curriculum" that effectively meets pupils' needs, with sixth-form students being "very well prepared for adult life." However, the clarity of curriculum sequencing in key stages 3 and 4 requires refinement to ensure pupils build knowledge securely.

Strengths

• Pupils are "highly respectful" and staff are "very effective in supporting pupils who struggle with self-control," ensuring lessons are not disrupted.
• Teachers are "skilled at explaining new subject knowledge clearly" and check learning to provide support, helping most pupils make expected progress.
• Leaders focus effectively on reading, with staff helping pupils build "phonics knowledge" and confidence through matched books.
• There is an "exceptionally wide range of opportunities" for personal development, including charity work and sports, fostering character and community engagement.
• Trustees and governors have "robust systems for holding leaders to account" and staff feel "valued by leaders" who manage workload and welfare well.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the "content and sequencing of some aspects of the key stages 3 and 4 curriculum" are clear enough so pupils "build their knowledge as well as they should."

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with "strong" processes for identifying pupils at risk and staff who understand how to keep pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities safe.