ES Independent School

Overview

The report describes a school where pupils feel "happy and safe" within a "friendly and supportive environment." Leaders have established high expectations, helping students who often arrive with low self-esteem to "gain confidence and believe in themselves again." The school meets independent school standards and provides an education carefully designed to meet the specific needs and aspirations of its pupils.

Strengths

• Leaders have designed an "inspiring curriculum" with subject leaders carefully defining key knowledge and skills to help pupils learn well.
• Staff effectively manage challenging behaviour and support pupils to "regulate their own behaviour," ensuring learning time is not lost.
• Teachers use assessment strategies effectively to identify and address gaps in learning, ensuring pupils have the "prior knowledge required to understand any new learning."
• Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment activities, such as equine therapy and martial arts, which support their physical and mental health.
• Leaders provide effective careers advice, ensuring pupils leave "better prepared for their next steps" with vocational qualifications and increased confidence.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure that subject curriculums in one or two areas are "designed well" so that pupils can acquire a "rich body of subject knowledge," as current developments are at an earlier stage.
• Leaders should put effective strategies in place to improve the attendance of a few pupils who "do not attend school as often as they should," causing them to miss out on important learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with staff receiving up-to-date training and working closely with external agencies to ensure vulnerable pupils receive timely help.