The Springboard Project

Overview

The Springboard Project is a special school where the welfare and education of pupils are central to its ethos. The report describes it as a "happy place in which to learn" with "high expectations" for students, noting that the curriculum for personal development is "exceptional." Most pupils are suitably prepared for their next steps in education, training, or employment.

Strengths

• The school provides a "high level of care" and fosters "highly respectful relationships" with pupils who have previously experienced turbulent education.
• Personal development is "exceptionally well thought out," offering abundant opportunities such as work placements, outdoor activities, and support for money management.
• Staff morale is high, with a strong sense of "passion and teamwork" supported by the trust and effective policies for manageable workloads.
• Attendance and behaviour have improved noticeably, with a reduction in serious disruption and a more positive attitude towards reading.

Areas to improve

• The school must develop its approach to evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum in a few subjects where oversight is currently weak.
• Teachers need better guidance to design learning activities that help pupils build a "secure body of knowledge" in a minority of subjects.

Safeguarding

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