The Chiltern School

Overview

The Chiltern School continues to be a good school, providing a welcoming environment where pupils with special educational needs are valued and supported. Leaders prioritise pupils’ well-being and happiness, creating a calm atmosphere where students thrive and make good progress in their learning.

Strengths

• Pupils are "welcomed and valued" and show clear enjoyment of "well-planned activities that make learning fun."
• Staff are described as "expert" and adapt classroom practices effectively, helping pupils to "thrive, gain in confidence and make good progress."
• The curriculum is "innovative and ambitious," placing communication at its core and ensuring learning is "tailored and meaningful."
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils create a "safe and happy place in which to learn," with consistent routines helping pupils manage emotions.
• Governors hold leaders to account, and staff feel "well supported" with access to high-quality training.

Areas to improve

• Some subject leaders lack a secure understanding of their curriculum’s impact because they have not monitored how well pupils are remembering what they have learned. Leaders must ensure all subject leaders routinely check this impact and make necessary changes.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff being "knowledgeable and vigilant for signs of harm" and passing on concerns promptly.