Cicely Haughton School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

To be a pupil at Cicely Haughton is to step into a world where you are seen, heard and understood.

It is a place where learning feels like a discovery, where books become adventures, and where mistakes are simply stepping stones to success.

This is a warm, nurturing environment where pupils who once struggled find their confidence, their voice, and their love for learning. The school's high expectations and ambition for pupils' achievements help pupils to overcome their often previously negative experiences of education.

As a result, pupils rise to expectations, learning, growing and excelling across all subjects.

It is a place where pupils find thei...r footing, their voice, and their confidence. When pupils find learning and life challenging, staff act quickly to support them.

Parents and carers call it a place where their children heal, grow, and thrive. This is a calm and purposeful learning environment where behaviour is exemplary.

Mental health weeks and celebration assemblies are woven through the school calendar.

These develop pupils' resilience and self-esteem. Pupils flourish and discover new interests and hobbies through the school's extensive extra-curricular provision. This includes mountain boarding, fun runs, and exploring the woodland 'secret city'.

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

Since the last inspection, leaders, trustees, and the academy board have worked hard to improve the school. Changes in reading, mathematics, and curriculum leadership have strengthened pupils' learning and progress. Support from the trust ensures ongoing improvements.

From the moment the pupils start at the school, staff work hard to understand their individual special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Close relationships between staff and pupils' families strengthen this process. The school provides targeted support and ensures that the right provision is in place for each pupil.

The curriculum is carefully designed to set out what pupils should learn and when. Across all subjects, there are exciting and ambitious sequences of learning. These build pupils' knowledge in a step-by-step manner.

The school's expectations of pupils are high. Many pupils achieve success in line with national age-related expectations.

Staff work hard to adapt their teaching to unlock the best way for pupils to learn.

They check in with pupils regularly to make sure they understand. Staff adjust teaching to fill gaps in pupils' knowledge and focus on key skills. When needed, staff act to provide additional support.

The school encourages pupils to develop a love of reading and books. Pupils have access to a wide range of high-quality texts, on and offline. They learn about focus authors and listen to carefully chosen books in daily story time sessions, lessons in phonics, reading comprehension, and daily whole class story time, ensuring reading is both a skill and a source of enjoyment for every pupil.

Opportunities to watch child-friendly webinars by famous children's authors are followed by whole-class reading sessions of that author's latest book.

The 'nurture' curriculum transforms pupils' confidence, relationships, and emotional resilience. Through structured sessions, such as group sharing time, crafts, and outdoor activities, pupils develop self-awareness and social skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Pupils feel valued, build lasting friendships, and learn to manage their emotions effectively. This enables them to thrive both academically and personally.

How staff support pupils in to develop positive behaviour attitudes to learning is exemplary.

They model caring and supportive relationships in all interactions with pupils. The use of the 'Den' provides a high-quality provision when pupils are struggling or need additional time away from lessons to manage their own emotions and feelings. Attendance is closely monitored, with staff maintaining regular communication with carers and external professionals to ensure children remain engaged in their education.

The curriculum for personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education, as well as activities such as gardening and school camps, provides valuable opportunities for pupils to build resilience, teamwork, and confidence. Music, sporting competitions and art enrich pupils' experiences and provide them with opportunities to shine.

Staff members feel valued and well-supported by the school.

There is a strong culture of well-being. This motivates staff to take pride in their work and helps them to carry out their roles as effectively as possible.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.