Marjory Kinnon School

Overview

The report describes a special school where leaders provide a high-quality education tailored to pupils with complex needs. Inspectors found that pupils are "safe and happy," benefiting from staff who expertly manage behaviour and support emotional well-being. The school’s holistic approach enables pupils to gain the social and academic skills necessary for independent adult lives.

Strengths

• Staff are "experts in helping pupils to calm down" and anticipate anxiety, stepping in early to manage feelings effectively.
• Leaders prioritise reading, ensuring all staff are trained in phonics and use matched books to help pupils become "confident and fluent readers."
• Pupils engage in extensive enrichment activities, such as theatrical presentations and the school’s ‘village’, which builds confidence and social communication skills.
• The curriculum includes comprehensive careers guidance, work experience, and practical skills like budgeting in a pupil-run café.
• Leaders show consideration for staff well-being, with the vast majority appreciating efforts to reduce workload and foster collaboration.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, curriculum thinking is not fully developed across phases, meaning pupils do not deepen their knowledge as successfully as they could. Leaders should ensure key knowledge is identified and planned year-on-year from Reception to Year 11.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving frequent training, building strong relationships with pupils, and responding promptly to concerns by arranging support from internal therapists or external agencies.