Mary Hare School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 May 2025

Pupils are proud to show their school values of ready, respectful, safe and successful. They are welcoming, friendly and confident communicators. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). While all pupils have a hearing impairment, some also have additional needs. Staff are highly attuned to pupils' individual needs and ensure they are met effectively. The school has high expectations for how well pupils will conduct themselves and learn. Pupils know why it is important to work hard and be kind. Pupils regularly meet these expectations by behaving and achieving well. The school implements a therapeutic approach to support pupils' development. Staff have been well trained to understand what needs pupils are trying to communicate when they find it hard to regulate their behaviour. On the rare occasions when this happens, staff skilfully support pupils. Pupils have positive and nurturing relationships with staff. Pupils trust that adults in the school will help them with any problems or worries they may have. Pupils' lives are positively transformed by attending Mary Hare. Pupils are eager to share their lived experiences. Many say that when they arrived here for the first time, they felt like they belonged and were able to meet children and adults who understood them well.

What the school should improve

• The school is still refining a small number of non-core subjects. In these subjects, staff currently lack clarity about what pupils need to know and when. Consequently, checks on pupils' understanding are not as effective as they could be. The school should ensure that knowledge in these areas is clearly defined and that teachers know how to precisely identify pupils' knowledge gaps so they can provide precise support to close them.

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