Kemball School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 December 2023

There are high aspirations for all pupils at Kemball School. Pupils rise to these high aspirations. The school understands every pupil's barrier to learning. It meticulously plans how to remove these barriers. Consequently, pupils are happy and achieve very well at this school. Pupils have a wide range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including complex and profound needs. Leaders are creative and find ways to understand what pupils know and remember. Staff give pupils extensive opportunities to show what they can achieve. The school's approach is summed up by its philosophy, 'If you don't try then you never know. Assume that pupils can and facilitate making that happen'. Pupils' behaviours are well understood by highly skilled staff. Pupils behave calmly in classrooms and around the school. They are supported to understand their own emotions and encouraged to reflect with an adult on the rare occasions when they have displayed less positive behaviour. Older pupils enjoy a number of leadership opportunities. This includes the chance to apply to become head boy and head girl. In addition, pupils take care of the school garden and help younger pupils during lunchtime. These opportunities promote pupils' social development and sense of responsibility well. Parents and carers are very positive about the support and care their children receive at the school.

What the school should improve

• In some parts of the curriculum, the key knowledge and vocabulary leaders want pupils to learn are not defined or sequenced clearly. This means pupils are not building their knowledge in a clear, logical order. The school should ensure that the essential knowledge and vocabulary are identified in all parts of the curriculum and sequenced clearly over time.

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