Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 October 2024

Pupils join the school having had difficulties in managing their behaviour and emotions in previous settings. Nevertheless, they settle quickly. This is because warm and nurturing relationships exist between pupils and staff at this school. Expectations for pupils' academic success and wider development are high. Staff demonstrate an unrelenting ambition for pupils from the moment they join. They want to give pupils every chance to achieve across a broad range of subjects. As a result, pupils achieve well. Pupils appreciate being treated as individuals, and staff help them learn that they are also part of a wider community. This helps pupils to understand their responsibilities as they get older and prepares them well for their next steps. Staff use positive approaches to manage pupils' behaviour. Pupils who need extra support with their behaviour are sensitively and respectfully given the space, time and strategies they need to successfully get back on track. As a result, disruption in lessons is rare. Bullying does happen sometimes, but pupils say they know whom to talk with to help them to sort things out. Pupils told inspectors that they feel safe and are kept safe.

What the school should improve

• There is variation in how well the school maps out what pupils should learn. In some subjects, it is not clear what the school wants pupils to learn and in what order. As a result, pupils do not build on the knowledge they already have. The school should ensure that the curriculum design, for all subjects and across all pathways, is coherent and well sequenced, so that pupils can learn as well as they should.

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