Greenbank School

Overview

Greenbank School is a secondary special school where pupils behave exceptionally well and display "impeccable manners." The inspection highlights a "happy and supportive ethos" where staff offer encouragement and challenge, resulting in pupils who "rise to these and achieve well." While the quality of education, personal development, and leadership are judged as Good, behaviour and attitudes are Outstanding.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate "kindness and empathy," greeting each other warmly and looking after one another.
• Teachers are "skilled in choosing the right materials" to engage learners and carefully consider the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Reading is a "high priority," with staff providing effective support to ensure pupils become "confident and fluent readers."
• Careers education runs successfully from Year 7, helping pupils make "informed decisions about their next stage."
• Leaders actively support staff well-being through initiatives such as "hot chocolate Monday" and external health support.

Areas to improve

• In key stage 4, pupils do not study a "sufficiently broad range of subjects," such as performing arts or music, which limits future choices.
• A number of pupils feel the school does not listen to their views sufficiently, meaning their opinions are not always considered in decision-making.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."