Burton PRU

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 June 2025

At Burton PRU, pupils are truly seen and heard. 'Building positivity, resilience and understanding' is more than a mission statement, it is the lived reality for those who attend. Staff listen, build trust and tailor learning to meet individual needs, creating a safe and nurturing environment. It is not just about academic progress, it is about helping every pupil to feel valued. Many pupils arrive with difficult experiences of education. Most have faced exclusion, and some have undiagnosed or previously unmet special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Many lack confidence and belief in themselves. Yet, by the time pupils leave, they are caring, respectful and ambitious learners, ready for their next steps. Across all the school's sites, relationships are built on care, trust and a deep commitment to mental well-being. Staff strive to understand each pupil and offer swift, thoughtful support. As a result, pupils' behaviour is calm, respectful and reflective throughout the school. Outdoor learning, through activities such as golf, climbing, mountain biking and more, helps pupils to discover new interests and build healthy hobbies. Enrichment weeks offer real-world experiences that inspire ambition among pupils. Trips to places such as a space museum to learn about space science and astronomy, and Derby's faith trails, broaden pupils' horizons and spark their curiosity. Pupils deepen their understanding of the wider world.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the school does not routinely provide opportunities for pupils to catch up on learning missed by absence. This is particularly the case for those pupils who have time away from school or find it challenging to engage in lessons. This affects their ability to build on their prior knowledge. The school should ensure that all staff utilise the broad range of assessment data gathered to identify the time and opportunities to help pupils catch up on missed learning when they return to school or re-engage with lessons.
• In some subjects, the school has not ensured that some aspects of the curriculums are taught as well as others or, in some cases, at all. Where this is the case, this limits the progress that pupils make. The school should ensure that its curriculum is taught well across all sites and subjects.

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