Pictor Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

The dedicated and inspirational headteacher of this outstanding and improving school is very well supported by her highly effective deputy headteacher. School development planning is highly effective. Middle managers are a strong, vibrant team determined to ensure that all pupils achieve as well as they can.

All leaders and managers work together exceptionally well to sustain the school's high standards of teaching and pupils' achievement. The governing body has an excellent understanding of the school's many strengths. Its members challenge and support the senior leadership team and gather first-hand information about how well t...he school is doing from their frequent visits.

Safeguarding procedures meet statutory requirements. Pupils say behaviour is very well managed; they feel very safe and enjoy their time at school. Attendance has continued to improve since the previous inspection and is now broadly average.

Achievement is outstanding. From their starting points which are significantly below average for their age, all pupils make outstanding progress over time, especially in reading, writing and mathematics. Early years provision is exceptional and enables children to make outstanding progress over time.

Teaching over time is outstanding, ensuring that pupils make rapid gains in their learning. The curriculum is exciting, stimulating and skilfully adapted to interest and engage all pupils. This helps them to understand British values and prepares them well for life in modern British society.

Information about this school

Pictor School provides for pupils between the ages of two and 11 who have a wide range of complex learning difficulties. Pupils often have a combination of learning difficulties including speech, communication and language difficulties. Many also experience social, emotional, behaviourial and physical difficulties.

Over half of the pupils are on the autistic spectrum and have profound or severe learning difficulties. Most pupils have a statement of special educational needs. The early years operates as an assessment centre for young children.

Following their assessment, some children are placed elsewhere, while others remain at Pictor for their primary education. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. A high proportion of pupils are known to be disadvantaged and are, therefore, eligible for support through pupil premium funding.

(The pupil premium is additional funding to support those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.) The school holds the Primary Quality Mark 3, the Leading Parent Partnership Award, the Schools' Financial Value Standard, and the Giving Speech Therapy Award. It also holds the Active Mark and is a nationally-accredited Healthy School.