Hamilton School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 April 2025

There are many positive and exciting changes happening for pupils at Hamilton school. Since the last inspection, the school has experienced a period of significant change. New leaders have joined and are developing a new and ambitious curriculum to reflect the needs of the pupils here. However, the curriculum is in the early stages of development. Despite the school's high expectations for pupils, there is a recognition that there is more work to do before the ambition for pupils' achievement is fully realised. Pupils are happy. Staff take time to understand pupils' interests and personal backgrounds. These are celebrated. For example, pupils share photos of their families, along with other aspects of their religion and culture, such as music and food. Everyone is welcomed and included. As a result, pupils know the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness. Pupils enjoy a range of wider experiences. These include lunchtime clubs, visitors to school and residential visits. Pupils across the school visit local supermarkets. They practise counting money to buy food. This helps to promote pupils' independence and life skills. Pupils' mental health is well supported. The school sees this as a priority. Pupils receive the help they need quickly from well-trained staff. Pupils are able to name trusted adults who will help them. Most pupils at the school behave well.

What the school should improve

• Some pupils, including children in the early years, do not benefit from high-quality interactions with adults. As a result, pupils do not begin to build their early independence, language and communication skills as quickly as they should. The school should ensure that all staff across school have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality and purposeful interactions with pupils, to develop these important skills in a more timely, effective way.
• Staff do not always implement the curriculum well enough to support pupils' learning. At times, learning activities are not planned well enough to support the knowledge pupils need to learn. They are not used to build on what pupils know and can do. Pupils do not achieve as well as they should. The school should ensure that the curriculum is delivered through effective learning activities that build on the important skills and knowledge pupils need to learn.
• At times, staff do not always implement the agreed communication and behaviour systems in their classrooms. This means that some pupils are not able to communicate their thoughts and feelings or what they need. This can lead to some pupils becoming unsettled during the day. The school should ensure that all staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to consistently implement communication and behaviour strategies that effectively support pupils to communicate.

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