Brent River College

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 March 2023

Brent River College is a warm and welcoming school. Pupils are proud to learn here. They feel safe, and they like the adults who support them. Pupils who attend the school need extra help and support with their behaviour. The nurturing environment helps pupils to settle quickly and to focus on the skills they need to manage their emotions independently. Consequently, pupils behave very well. Pupils enjoy their learning, and there is very little disruption to lessons. Pupils learn to communicate their feelings in a calm way and to listen to the opinions of other people. Pupils say that bullying is rare. If it does happen, it is sorted out quickly. Staff at the school have high expectations for every pupil. Leaders prioritise regular attendance and have ensured a highly consistent approach to behaviour and learning. Pupils benefit from this clear structure and consistency. Staff understand the specific needs of the pupils very well. They adjust their teaching to capture the interests of pupils and to make lessons fun and engaging. Pupils have a trusted adult they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns. Leaders provide additional therapies and specialist support to strengthen pupil well-being and resilience.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, curriculum thinking does not always clearly identify the component knowledge that pupils should learn and remember. This means that some pupils do not acquire a deep understanding in these subjects. Leaders should ensure that, in all subjects, the key skills and knowledge are clearly identified so that teachers know what to teach and when.

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