Joseph Clarke School

Overview

Joseph Clarke School continues to be a good school, characterised by an "enthusiastic, friendly and hardworking ethos." Pupils are described as courteous and cooperative, thriving in a "calm and purposeful place to learn" where they trust staff to support their complex needs. The school is praised for its strong community links and effective preparation for life beyond education.

Strengths

• Staff are "skilled in using what they know about pupils" to support them, fostering high levels of trust and confidence.
• The early years provision gives children an "excellent start," with strong partnerships enabling a wide range of activities including pre-Braille skills.
• A revised reading and phonics curriculum, adapted for visual impairment, helps pupils develop "phonics skills and reading fluency."
• Leaders prioritise personal development, with work to improve resilience and character "deeply embedded" in the school culture.
• Pupils are well prepared for transitions, with some supported to attend mainstream schools to develop independence.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure an "ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum" is in place for pupils with the most complex needs, as current short-term goals do not clearly link to long-term outcomes.
• The mathematics curriculum places too much emphasis on examination practice; leaders should implement a logically sequenced approach to deepen understanding and connect skills to real-life settings.
• Leaders must ensure all non-verbal pupils have consistent communication systems to express themselves, rather than relying solely on verbal instruction.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong culture of safeguarding" where staff are alert to signs of harm and keep accurate records.