Crowdys Hill School

Overview

Crowdys Hill School provides a “nurturing environment” where pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities feel “safe and well supported.” The inspection found that staff have “high expectations” and deliver an “ambitious, well-designed curriculum” that builds life skills and independence. Overall, the school is judged as “Good” across all key areas, including the quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.

Strengths

• Pupils benefit from a “coherent curriculum” that is tailored to their individual needs and EHC plans, leading to well-matched learning.
• Staff skilfully adapt teaching to encourage creativity, and pupils develop “close, trusting relationships” with adults who model kindness.
• The school effectively prepares pupils for adulthood, with a strong emphasis on communication skills and reading fluency.
• Sixth-form students achieve functional skills qualifications and progress into further training or employment through a “rich array of activities.”
• The governing body now has an “accurate understanding” of the school’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing effective challenge and support.

Areas to improve

• Ensure all staff receive support to deepen their subject understanding so they can adapt learning more precisely to pupils’ needs.
• Use assessment information from regular learning checks more effectively to inform and improve curriculum development.
• Sharpen actions to encourage regular attendance, particularly for sixth-form pupils who currently do not attend well.

Safeguarding

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