Hayfield School

Overview

Hayfield School continues to be a good school, maintaining high standards despite recent rapid expansion in staff and pupil numbers. Pupils form positive relationships with staff and peers, feeling safe and supported in a caring environment where they develop into "resilient and confident learners." The school successfully enables pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to achieve well through an ambitious, individualised curriculum.

Strengths

• Leaders have created an "ambitious curriculum" with carefully crafted individual units that meet pupils’ unique personal, social, and academic needs.
• Staff are specially trained to support pupils with SEND, adapting learning materials and providing specialist equipment to ensure access to the curriculum.
• Reading is a high priority, with teachers introducing a "rich range of books" and ensuring pupils with difficulties receive effective support to develop fluency.
• Pupils demonstrate a strong appreciation of fundamental British values and engage actively in community activities, such as raising money for charities and befriending elderly residents.
• Governors provide strong support, working closely with leaders to maintain high standards during this period of rapid change.

Areas to improve

• Some subject leaders are new and still developing their expertise, meaning they do not yet provide as effective advice and support to teachers as they could in all subjects.
• Consequently, in a small number of subjects, the curriculum is not delivered as effectively as possible, and occasionally some pupils do not learn as well as they should.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders ensuring "stringent safeguarding procedures are in place" and staff recording and reporting concerns swiftly.