Northstar New School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 July 2026

Pupils receive a warm welcome at Northstar New School. Staff go the extra mile to provide a calm, safe and nurturing environment. This enables pupils with difficult and disrupted experiences of education to find joy in learning. New pupils are supported by staff and their peers to settle into the routines. These are clear and consistent. Over time, pupils develop a strong sense of belonging. Pupils value this greatly. As a result, attendance is high. Staff keep pupils safe. Pupils develop a deep sense of trust in staff. Pupils feel respected and well-cared-for. They appreciate that they are treated like individuals. Pupils know that if they make mistakes they will be supported to learn from them. This helps to reduce the anxiety that many feel about school. The positive environment encourages pupils to socialise and many build strong supportive friendships. For some, this is a new and transformative experience. There is no culture of bullying. These bonds help pupils develop the confidence needed to approach different social situations. This prepares them very well for the next steps in education, employment or training. Staff have high expectations for pupils. Pupils who have been at the school for longer periods are excellent role models for their peers. Pupils take their learning very seriously. This helps those with negative previous experiences of education to see learning in a different light. Pupils take great pride in their achievements, including in national tests where they achieve highly. Pupils learn the important information that will help keep them safe. They are very clear about how to identify and report abuse. They know who they can speak to if they have concerns. Pupils have a wide range of opportunities to learn about British history and culture. They contribute to their local community, including through volunteering and fund raising.

What the school should improve

• The proprietor should further strengthen the programme of professional learning, with a focus on subject-specific pedagogy so that, as it expands the school, teaching staff continue to have the knowledge and confidence to deliver the wider curriculum consistently well.
• The proprietor should continue to develop its careers programme, including careers advice that is even more tailored to pupils' needs, so that they are able to make exceptionally well-informed choices.

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