Pathfield School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 October 2024

Pathfield School caters for pupils aged 3 to 19 with profound and severe learning difficulties. The school includes a centre for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, known as 'Pathways'. This is a school where pupils settle in quickly, even when they have spent a lot of time out of education. Before long, they are learning happily in their small class groups. The school provides different curriculum routes for pupils to follow depending on their needs. Pupils in the 'pre-formal' stage learn through sensory experiences. Meanwhile, pupils learning through more formal approaches focus on early reading and mathematics. Many pupils become accurate readers. This is down to the school's can-do attitude and systematic teaching methods. Over time, pupils grow comfortable in the school environment. Therapeutic sessions, including in music, art and drama, help them to express their emotions and regulate their behaviour. For some, this opens up more formal learning opportunities. Increasingly, pupils gain valuable qualifications in key stages 4 and 5. As far as possible, pupils learn to live independent lives. The school is a powerful advocate for older students' lives beyond school, including those who move into supported living arrangements as young adults.

What the school should improve

• In the secondary phase, a small proportion of pupils are ready to learn more challenging curriculum content. However, the school has not developed the necessary subject-specific expertise among staff to make this possible. As a result, some pupils do not learn subjects in as much depth or gain the qualifications that they could. The school should ensure that pupils receive the expert subject teaching that they need to fulfil their potential.

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