Alternative Education Service - The Beacon Centre

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 March 2023

Staff at the Beacon Centre make a difference to pupils' lives. Pupils receive care, guidance and support that improve their life chances. Pupils who attend this school often have difficult previous school experiences, or have significant challenges in their lives. Staff understand this and have created a positive, supportive environment where pupils do well. Pupils appreciate the time that staff take to listen to them. This makes them feel valued. There are adults to talk to if pupils have any worries. Pupils feel safe, both emotionally and physically. Bullying is not a problem at this school. Pupils get along well with each other and receive strong pastoral support from staff. Pupils are respectful and tolerant of each other. Some pupils find behaviour a challenge. Staff understand this and teach pupils strategies to manage their own emotions. Inappropriate behaviour is sensitively managed with firm, but fair, rules and boundaries. Pupils understand the school rules and feel that everyone is treated equally. To support pupils' development of life skills, the secondary school site has a fully functioning shop and salon. These give pupils the opportunities to prepare for adulthood as well as acquiring specific job-related skills.

What the school should improve

• Pupils in the secondary school with low attendance are falling behind in the curriculum. Pupils are missing out on vital knowledge acquisition in a range of subjects and are not given the opportunity to catch up. Leaders should continue to work with individuals and families to improve attendance. Leaders should also identify the non-negotiable knowledge that all pupils need to study in each subject and make sure time is provided for them to catch up.
• The reading curriculum in the secondary school does not meet the needs of all pupils. Pupils are not developing a secure bank of reading knowledge and skills to become fluent, confident readers. As a result, some pupils are disengaged and disinterested in reading. Leaders should prioritise reading and develop a positive culture for reading in key stage 3 and 4.

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