Sutton House Academy

Overview

Sutton House Academy is a special academy for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The inspection found that the school provides a high-quality education where pupils settle quickly, behave well, and achieve well thanks to a carefully adapted curriculum. Leaders have acted decisively to improve the school since the previous inspection, resulting in strong leadership and positive staff morale.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "carefully adapted" to meet individual needs, enabling pupils to "achieve well" in reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Pupils are "typically respectful and responsive to the high expectations" and form positive working relationships with staff.
• "High-quality support" addresses social, emotional and mental health needs from the outset, helping pupils gain confidence and self-esteem.
• Reading is a high priority with daily phonics sessions, ensuring most pupils "become confident readers."
• Personal, social and health education is "well planned," teaching life skills and promoting tolerance and respect.

Areas to improve

• In a "very small number of subjects" with recently introduced curricula, key knowledge has not been "finely tuned," leading to occasional gaps in pupils’ learning.
• Teachers in these specific subjects lack sufficient training and confidence, so the school must ensure they receive the necessary support to teach effectively.

Safeguarding

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