St Piers School

Overview

St Piers School continues to be a good school, where pupils are described as "happy, settled and very well cared for." Leaders have effectively steered the institution through recent changes, fostering a "shared sense of purpose" and improved staff morale. The school provides a busy, fulfilling environment with strong support for pupils’ emotional needs and future independence.

Strengths

• Staff develop a "strong rapport" with pupils, helping them feel "secure, valued and respected" while managing anxiety and behaviour.
• The curriculum offers valuable life skills, such as using ‘The Link’ to replicate a home environment for learning tasks like cooking and laundry.
• A phonics programme provides a "secure grounding in early reading skills," with staff adapting resources to engage pupils individually.
• Pupils enjoy "excellent facilities," including a swimming pool and gym, and participate in diverse activities like running the tuck-shop.
• Staff provide "skilful and caring support" for pupils with complex special educational needs, ensuring calm and purposeful classrooms.

Areas to improve

• Recent improvements in the English and mathematics curriculum are "not yet fully established," leading to variations in learning quality.
• Variations in staff confidence regarding behaviour management mean pupils "sometimes behave less well than they should."

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a highly knowledgeable designated safeguarding lead ensuring staff are confident in identifying and reporting concerns diligently.