New Barn School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 September 2025

All pupils at this school have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and an education, health and care (EHC) plan. Over time, pupils have not received the necessary stability and routines that they need to thrive. Too many pupils receive poor classroom experiences. Staff's expectations are low. Some pupils do not receive the support that is set out in their EHC plans. Teaching does not motivate pupils to learn. Staff accept too readily when pupils refuse to start or complete work, or when they are disrespectful. As a result, pupils do not achieve well. They fail to make the progress through the curriculum of which they are capable. The school is beginning to take action to improve pupils' experiences. Pupils are beginning to benefit from this work. Increasingly, pupils are adhering to the higher expectations set out in the school's behaviour policies. For example, incidences of poor behaviour are reducing. Pupils attend school regularly and they are safe. Effective pastoral care is a top priority. Pupils have trusted adults to work with. Pupils gain confidence through a range of wider experiences, such as boxing lessons, learning outside in local woodlands and through the Duke of Edinburgh's award. Secondary-age pupils study for qualifications, such as functional skills and GCSEs.

What the school should improve

• The proprietor has not ensured that staff have the skills and knowledge to implement the curriculum effectively. Activities are disjointed or poorly chosen. As a result, too many pupils are not motivated to learn or they opt out of lessons. The proprietor must take action to ensure that staff gain the subject knowledge and skills that they need to deliver the curriculum across all phases and subjects so that pupils receive a high-quality curriculum.
• The school's work to upgrade schemes of learning so that they meet pupils' needs and aptitudes is not complete. Pupils do not learn well across the curriculum. The proprietor must ensure that pupils learn the breadth and depth of subject knowledge they need to make the progress that they should across the curriculum.
• Staff do not use the assessment information they have to inform what they teach well enough. This leads to pupils completing tasks that do not match their individual needs and ability and inhibits their progress through the curriculum. The proprietor should improve staff's use of assessment to inform their teaching so that it better meets pupils' needs.
• The weaknesses in the implementation of the school's policies and practices are not being resolved quickly enough. Pupils do not receive their agreed provision as set out in their EHC plans. The proprietor must ensure that it assures itself that all the necessary resources are in place and highly skilled staff implement school policies and pupils' individualised plans effectively.
• Some staff do not adhere to delivering the agreed school timetable. Tutor times and what the school calls 'choosing time' are not used effectively. Some curriculum lessons are missed out. This restricts what pupils can learn. The proprietor must ensure that there is strong oversight of all aspects of the school day so that it takes action to address irregularities as soon as they arise.
• The proprietor does not demonstrate the capacity to improve the school quickly enough. It does not have sufficient oversight of the school. The school fails to meet standards consistently and continually. The proprietor must ensure that the standards are met in full and consistently over time.

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