Brookfield School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 June 2026

This school has a nurturing and caring culture that encourages pupils to succeed. Many pupils have had previously disrupted school experiences. They develop warm and trusting relationships with staff. This helps them to feel safe and happy. Pupils are confident that staff would resolve any bullying quickly if it happened. Pupils follow individual programmes that support them to develop socially and emotionally. They make steady academic progress from their starting points. Pupils follow well-established routines. This helps them to manage their emotions and feel more settled. A variety of therapies, including physical activities, music and art promote a sense of calm. Pupils enjoy having breakfast and lunch together with staff. This sets them at ease with each other and fosters a sense of belonging. Pupils are kind and respectful towards each other and staff. They typically behave well and engage in their learning. Pupils’ resilience and their rates of attendance improve over time because of the encouragement and skilful care that they receive from dedicated staff. Pupils benefit from a wealth of activities that promote their mental health and wellbeing. These include canoeing, mountain-biking and football. During breaktimes, pupils develop their teamwork and physical skills by playing basketball and cricket together enthusiastically. Pupils’ opinions are valued and they have a genuine voice in the school. They have influenced Friday enrichment choices, lunch menus and successfully campaigned for a tuck shop, which has recently opened. School councillors play an active role in decisions about playground equipment. Pupils enjoy taking on responsibilities, such as raising money for charities. Pupils are well prepared for adulthood. They develop important life skills, for example planning visits to places of interest in different parts of the country. This builds their confidence, reduces anxiety and fosters their independence.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to strengthen the consistency of teaching, including to deepen pupils’ knowledge and ensure that they address any misconceptions.
• Leaders should build on their current strategies to continue to improve the attendance of all pupils and groups.
• Leaders and governors should develop more strategic use of the information they gather about the pupil premium funding in order to evaluate its impact on the attendance of disadvantaged pupils.

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