Barndale School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 April 2024

Pupils at Barndale House School arrive at school eager and ready to learn. Staff greet pupils warmly. The school prioritises knowing pupils and their individual needs well. This is a caring place to learn. There is a community feel across the school. Pupils feel safe. They have adults who listen and support them. Adults' patient and careful approach helps meet pupils' wide range of needs. Leaders have high ambitions for the pupils who attend. The curriculum ensures that pupils access learning to realise these ambitions. Pupils do well. They learn in classrooms where they focus on their learning. Adults support pupils effectively in order to access each aspect of the school's wide-ranging curriculum offer. The school helps pupils to regulate their behaviour well. This helps pupils to learn and play together effectively. The school ensures that pupils learn beyond the academic curriculum. A wide range of further experiences and opportunities help pupils prepare for their next steps in learning. Visits to local facilities like hospitality venues and completing Duke of Edinburgh's Awards help pupils develop a wide range of skills. Work with local employers, including Alnwick Garden, help pupils understand the world of work. Pupils talk with confidence and enthusiasm about these opportunities.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the checks that are made on pupils' learning are not aligned to the curriculum that is taught. In these subjects, the school is not clear on the impact of the curriculum on pupils building knowledge and skills over time. The school should ensure that assessment enables the school to understand the impact of the curriculum they intend pupils to learn and remember.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)