Howard House School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 June 2025

Pupils enjoy school. Staff listen to pupils' views and act in their best interests. Pupils build positive relationships with their peers. They work and socialise happily together. This is an inclusive school with a strong sense of community. The school has high aspirations for what pupils can achieve. It works with pupils to build their confidence and resilience. Pupils show positive attitudes to their learning. They make progress from their different starting points. Many pupils move onto college courses. Indeed, the school shows a strong commitment to preparing pupils for their next steps in education and training. Most of the time, pupils behave well. Staff know and understand the pupils. They are skilful in meeting pupils' social and emotional needs. Pupils value this. They have trusted members of staff who they have identified. These staff support pupils when they find it difficult to manage their own behaviour. The school seeks to develop all pupils' talents and interests. Pupils enjoy spending time in the extensive school grounds. They contribute to the development of the outdoor environment. Pupils take part in a range of activities that enrich their education. They also benefit from visits to places of cultural interest.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the school has not clearly set out what knowledge should be learned and when. This means that pupils do not build an appropriate depth of subject knowledge. The school should ensure that the curriculum includes both substantive and disciplinary knowledge. It should ensure that this knowledge is sequenced in a logical manner so that pupils build a coherent body of subject knowledge over time.

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