Sir Peter Hall School

Overview

Sir Peter Hall School is a special academy for pupils aged 9 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The inspection found that the school makes a "positive difference to pupils’ lives," helping those with "poor experiences of education" to "re-engage with their learning" and "gain confidence." All four inspection categories—quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management—were judged as Good.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "ambitious" and covers a "mix of relevant academic and vocational subjects" suited to pupils’ needs, including opportunities to build "social and emotional resilience."
• Staff effectively support pupils’ behaviour, creating a "positive community" where pupils are "respectful to staff" and trust them to deal with issues.
• "Carefully thought through transitions" and "well-considered support" help pupils settle, reflect on their behaviour, and meet the school’s "high expectations."
• Attendance is "rising," particularly for pupils who "did not attend well prior to starting the school," due to close work with families to "break down barriers."
• High-quality enrichment activities, such as horse riding, film clubs, and competitive sports, "enrich pupils’ day-to-day curriculum" and help pupils feel "proud of their school."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure staff "implement the school’s curriculum effectively," as there are times when teaching does not support pupils to "learn new knowledge successfully."
• Leaders should ensure staff receive "effective support to understand the school’s systems and processes," as recent rapid leadership changes have been "unsettling" for some staff.

Safeguarding

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