New Heights High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 December 2023

Pupils join the school having had difficulties in managing their feelings and regulating their behaviour at previous settings. Staff transform many pupils' lives by helping them to get back on track with their education. Pupils enjoy warm and nurturing relationships with staff who know them well. This helps pupils to develop a strong sense of belonging to the school community. Staff notice when pupils experience distress. They are quick to anticipate conflict and respond swiftly and sensitively to pupils' emotional needs. Pupils are happy and know that they are in safe hands. The school's priority is to rebuild pupils' enthusiasm for learning. Pupils regain confidence in themselves and in their abilities. This helps them to successfully move on to schools or destinations that are right for them. Staff understand pupils' needs, including the special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) of many pupils, exceptionally well. These insights help staff to deliver a personalised and well-designed curriculum. As a result, pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education. Pupils' personal development is at the heart of this school. The school threads rich opportunities for personal, social, health and economic education into each day. This, along with a sharp focus on pupils' emotional growth, enables pupils to develop their resilience and their self-belief.

What the school should improve

• Some staff are not as adept as they should be in helping pupils to learn to read and engaging them in recreational reading. Consequently, some pupils lack confidence and fluency in their reading and do not enjoy reading as much as they could. The school should equip staff to ignite a love of reading in pupils and to support them to become fluent and confident readers.

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