St Anthony's School

Overview

St Anthony’s School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school helps pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs to “turn around their lives and re-engage with education” through strong pastoral support and a bespoke curriculum. While the school provides a safe and caring environment where pupils feel valued, attendance remains low and some teaching activities lack sufficient ambition.

Strengths

• Staff build “positive mutual relationships” with pupils, helping them settle quickly and feel safe through trusted adults and sensitive pastoral support.
• The school designs a “bespoke curriculum” that meets individual needs, ensuring pupils learn necessary skills and are well prepared for their next steps.
• Pupils contribute positively to the community, holding leadership roles and volunteering for local activities, showing pride in representing the school.
• Teachers have “secure subject knowledge” and explain learning clearly, with effective individualised phonics programmes helping early readers become confident.
• Careers education is a strength, providing clear guidance, work experience, and college visits to prepare pupils for education and employment.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must design activities that support pupils to “deepen their knowledge and understanding of the curriculum over time,” as some current tasks lack sufficient ambition.
• The school must continue to embed its work to ensure pupils attend more frequently, as persistent absence remains too high and too many pupils miss out on vital education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.