Mayfield School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Ambitious leaders and governors have developed the school successfully so that it is a key part of Torbay's provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Leaders are committed to providing the best education and care, whatever a pupil's needs or disability. This means that pupils and students make good progress from their different starting points. Pupils behave well.

When pupils become distressed, this is managed in a calm and consistent manner so that pupils feel safe and can return to work when they are ready. Arrangements to keep pupils safe are effective. A culture of kindness and care underpins thes...e.

Children get off to a positive start in the early years. Good teaching in a safe and caring environment leads current children to make good progress. Pupils at the Chestnut Centre and the Annex, many of whom have had negative experiences of schooling, learn to manage their emotions and behaviour better so that they can learn successfully.

Students are well prepared for adulthood. The college provides a wide range of activities so that students become more independent and develop key skills that they will need in the future. Teachers make good use of clear individual targets to inform their teaching.

Teachers and leaders carefully check progress. Effective action is put in place if a pupil is at risk of not making good progress. Some teachers' knowledge of the development of reading, writing and mathematics is insecure.

Therefore, work set is not always appropriate. Teaching, in calm and purposeful classrooms, is frequently interesting and stimulating. On occasions, the interest of pupils wanes because : the purpose of learning is not clear or the activity is not suitable to capture their attention.

The wide-ranging curriculum is carefully designed to meet the needs of different groups of pupils. Parents and carers have a positive view of the school.

Information about this school

Mayfield School is on three sites.

The main site caters for boys and girls up to 16 years of age with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. The Chestnut site in Brixham caters for primary-aged pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Students with severe or profound learning difficulties aged 16 to 19 attend Mayfield College in Occombe.

On this site, the school has recently opened an annex to the Chestnut Centre for pupils who have been excluded from mainstream schools. Most pupils have EHC plans. Most pupils are of White British heritage.

Over half of pupils are eligible for pupil premium funding. This is above the national average. Currently, one pupil is supported by an alternative provider in agreement with the local authority.