Gilbrook School

Overview

Pupils at Gilbrook School “thrive” and feel “valued,” with many experiencing happiness and appreciation for the first time in their education. The school provides a “tailored” curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, fostering a “calm, friendly and caring ethos” where staff build “trusting and respectful relationships.”

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “Outstanding” behaviour and attitudes, learning to “manage their own behaviour well” through consistent support.
• Personal development is “Outstanding,” with pupils building resilience and confidence through outdoor experiences like camping and hiking.
• Staff deliver a new phonics programme “consistently well,” helping pupils become “confident, fluent readers.”
• The curriculum offers a “wide, rich set of experiences,” including visits to museums and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Staff feel “well supported by senior leaders,” who are “considerate of their workload” and support well-being.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum in a few subjects lacks “clear information about the key concepts pupils should learn and know,” hindering implementation.
• Some staff teach outside their expertise without “effective support,” lacking the knowledge to implement the curriculum successfully.

Safeguarding

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