Lionheart School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 January 2026

Pupils enjoy attending the Lionheart School. Pupils value the warmth and kindness of staff. The caring relationships help pupils to develop a deep sense of belonging. Pupils feel valued by the staff. Leaders have created an environment where ‘child first and always’ is at the forefront of the school's work. Pupils trust that staff will help them and will support them in any challenges they face. For many pupils, this is their first positive experience of school and education. This contributes to most pupils attending more regularly. They speak about now being hopeful for their future. Pupils across the school are skilfully supported by staff. Teachers respond quickly to provide additional support for pupils when they require it. Pupils are helped to develop strategies to manage their own behaviour. They are confident that staff will deal with bullying if it occurs. This helps them to feel happy and safe and results in a respectful and purposeful school environment. Staff are ambitious for all pupils in the school. Pupils benefit from teaching and support that is adapted to meet their needs. This enables them to learn and make suitable progress from their starting points through the curriculum. Pupils are well supported to become increasingly confident and resilient. An extensive range of enrichment opportunities are available for all pupils. Pupils feel they belong to the school community. They contribute to the wider community through organising events, such as a charity coffee morning. This is a highly inclusive school. The school is effective at identifying and addressing the wide range of barriers that pupils face. Pupils have access to high-quality careers education and support. This results in them being ambitious and aspirational. This school is successful at improving their life chances through its work with employers and local colleges. Pupils are prepared well for their next steps.

What the school should improve

• The school should continue its work to ensure that teaching is consistently effective so pupils achieve highly across the full curriculum. • Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain the effectiveness of their rapid improvement work, overcoming barriers and challenges, in order to drive a transformational impact for all pupils.

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