Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 February 2025

Walnut Tree Lodge School provides a safe space in which pupils can thrive. When a new pupil joins, staff are sensitive to their individual needs. Pupils come from challenging circumstances. Staff support them effectively. Over time, pupils develop strong, trusting relationships with the adults who work with them. The school's calm indoor spaces, and peaceful rural location help pupils to grow, emotionally and academically. Caring staff celebrate pupils' achievements. They help pupils to develop a sense of pride in their endeavours. The school is ambitious for pupils, regardless of their starting points. Typically, pupils work hard in lessons, often producing high-quality work. Pupils achieve well. Many obtain appropriate qualifications and move on to further study when they leave. Pupils have significant social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. They often struggle to control their feelings. However, the school's clear boundaries and routines help pupils to understand the adults' expectations of their behaviour. Pupils learn to manage their emotions, so that they are increasingly able to be successful learners. A range of enrichment activities extend pupils' learning beyond the curriculum. For example, pupils learn to garden and cook. They visit the nearby farm shop to buy plants or ingredients. These activities help to build their self-esteem and confidence.

What the school should improve

• The school and proprietor group's checks on the quality of provision are not as effective as they might be. As a result, occasionally, areas for improvement are missed and some pupils do not learn as well as they could. The proprietor group should ensure that the school is supported and challenged robustly, and that that strong oversight of the quality of provision leads to on-going school improvement.
• The school's actions to reduce pupil absences are not as effective as they could be. Sometimes, there is not enough urgency or challenge in the school's response to pupils' absence. As a result, some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. This means they miss important learning. The school should strengthen its approach to reducing absence, so that all pupils attend regularly and maximise their learning opportunities, both socially and academically.

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