Bradstow School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The school inspires students of all ages to make exceptionally rapid progress in their understanding of emotions and the way they relate to others as well as in their academic work.

Students are highly motivated to succeed as a result of the high expectations set by staff. The outstanding teaching is very successful in ensuring the majority of students make excellent progress. Teaching targets the needs of individual students exceptionally well.

Students' behaviour is exemplary. This is because they are happy learners and feel safe and secure and valued by all staff. They have excellent attitudes towards their learning.

L...eadership and management are of a consistently high quality. The headteacher and senior staff ensure that the performance of staff is evaluated rigorously and developed to ensure the best for the students. The checks made on teaching are thorough and accurate and ensure consistently high-quality classroom practice.

Most staff, though not all, are very skilled in reviewing data about how well students have done, in order to be absolutely sure that progress is as good as it could be. The sixth form is outstanding because students gain so many useful skills for independent living. They are prepared very well for the next steps in their education.

The governing body provides outstanding challenge and support to the school's leaders. Governors have a detailed knowledge of the school's strengths and areas for development.

Information about this school

Bradstow is a residential special school for children and young people with severe learning, behaviour or communication difficulties; a high proportion of students have a diagnosis of autism.

Students are generally admitted from maintained special schools throughout London and the southeast. They attend Bradstow having often been permanently excluded from their previous special school, with some being refused admission to the latter on the grounds of the severity of their disabilities and associated challenging behaviour. Most families require additional support to manage their child's complex needs.

The proportion of students who are from ethnic minority heritages is above average, as is that of the students who speak English as an additional language and are at the early stages of learning English, most of whom are boys. Almost all students are boarders and all have a statement of special educational needs. There are four day students.

The proportion of students known to be eligible for the pupil premium (those eligible for free school meals, those in care and those with a parent or carer in the armed services) is above average. The local authority looks after 15 of the students, but none of the students in the school are from services families. All Year 7 students are eligible for the Year 7 catch-up premium.

Around two thirds of students across the school are involved with the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) as a result of their behavioural needs. The provision works in partnership with many different bodies and organisations, including more than 20 local authorities. Eight of students in Key Stages 4 and 5 currently receive some of their education off site, delivered by a range of alternative providers, including East Kent College, The John Graham Centre, Hilderstone Adult Education Centre and the Community Art Project in Margate.

The school only offers the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) externally accredited courses and does not enter students for other examinations. Since the last inspection the school has gained the prestigious European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Awards for 'Customer Focus', 'Leading with vision, inspiration and integrity' and 'Succeeding through people'. In June 2011 the school's residential provision was inspected by Ofsted, and was judged to be outstanding overall.