Barton Manor School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

A palpable sense of ambition is evident in all aspects of school life. Pupils live up to the school's motto of 'Aspire, Believe and Achieve'. They try their best because staff recognise and celebrate the unique qualities and achievements of each pupil.

Pupils participate enthusiastically in all that the school offers them. Careers education weaves through academic learning. Pupils understand real-world application of classroom learning in industry and they are extremely well informed to make ambitious plans for their future.

Clear routines and high expectations of behaviour help pupils feel safe. Lessons are calm and focused as teachers are consistent with their expec...tations. Pupils arrive at lessons on time, with the appropriate equipment.

Pupils contribute to the culture of kindness that permeates the school. Social times are vibrant and fun, with pupils taking part in a plethora of lunch clubs or happily chatting to each other and staff. Positive relationships, built on trust, mean that pupils are confident that staff will help them if they need it.

Most pupils enjoy learning and achieve well. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive thoughtful help to engage fully with education and school life. The school carefully identifies and meets the needs of pupils with SEND.

The school provides effective support to ensure disadvantaged pupils achieve well.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has meticulously designed a curriculum that meets the different needs of pupils. The curriculum follows a logical sequence, purposefully designed to help pupils build on prior learning.

External speakers, such as poets, visit the school and enrich pupils' classroom learning. This enables pupils to connect their learning to real-life situations.

Staff prioritise the development of pupils' literacy skills.

Teachers encourage pupils to use precise technical vocabulary in their discussions and written work. Pupils who need help to read or speak English receive support effectively. Staff support pupils with SEND to learn with independence.

The school tailors an ambitious curriculum for pupils in 'nurture' classes, ensuring they receive enhanced support. Here, pupils thrive due to thoughtful care and attention from expert staff.

Teachers routinely check how well that pupils understand what they are learning.

At times, some teaching does not ensure that all pupils understand some complex ideas. This means that pupils do not fully understand new concepts and limits how well they remember and apply this learning.

Many pupils attend very well.

The school works sensitively with families to identify and remove the barriers to positive attendance. When pupils do not meet the school's high expectations, staff apply the behaviour policy fairly. The school offers a wide range of support to help pupils build confidence and manage their emotions in a positive way.

However, for a small minority of pupils, this support does not effectively target the challenges that they have. This means that these pupils experience repeated consequences and suspensions, potentially leading to disrupted education.

The school's exceptional personal development approach prepares pupils very well for life.

Pupils learn how to manage their finances and take care of their health and well-being. Pupils articulate themselves very well. They debate confidently about current affairs and ethical dilemmas.

A wide enrichment offer encompasses accessible sports activities to ensure that pupils of all abilities have fair representation. Pupil leadership empowers pupils to influence positive school changes. The school has forged strong partnerships with local universities, colleges and alumni.

These people inspire pupils to achieve all that they can. Pupils benefit enormously from an excellent careers education that provides them with impartial information about next steps in education and employment, including apprenticeships.

Leadership at all levels is precise and strategic.

Leaders' approach to school improvement is robust and based on an accurate and deep understanding of the school. The school utilises its position in the trust to collaborate and share best practice. Trustees and governors know the school especially well and hold leaders to account effectively.

Staff receive high-quality professional development to enable them to meet the needs of pupils. Staff are proud to work at this wonderfully warm, welcoming and inclusive school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Though the school has started to put in place support for the small minority of pupils who find it more difficult to manage their behaviour, actions are not fully meeting pupils' needs. Therefore, some pupils receive regular consequences and suspensions which potentially increase the risk of further disengaging them from education. The school must ensure these pupils have the support they need to help them manage their behaviour positively.

• In a minority of lessons, teachers do not always adapt their teaching in response to gaps in pupils' understanding. This means, at times, learning moves on before pupils understand concepts correctly. The school must ensure that all staff have the expertise they need to identify misconceptions and adapt learning so that pupils are able to achieve the ambitious aims of the curriculum.