Raise Rochdale Pupil Referral Service

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 May 2024

The school offers pupils a fresh start to their education. Pupils recognise the positive impact of the school's work in supporting them to get back on track with their learning. Small classes help pupils to regain confidence in themselves and in their ability to do well. This helps pupils to feel happy and safe. Since the previous inspection, the school has raised its expectations for pupils' academic and social success. Pupils are beginning to benefit from a strengthened curriculum that has been well designed in most subjects. However, these subject curriculums are not consistently delivered well. This prevents some pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), from achieving as well as they should. Pupils respond well to the positive relationships that they have with staff. From when pupils start at school, their behaviour and attitudes to learning show steady signs of improvement. However, too many pupils are regularly absent from school. This means that they miss lessons and develop gaps in their learning. Younger pupils relish opportunities to learn how to be active citizens in their local community, for example, through charity fundraising events and trips to the foodbank. They enjoy a range of activities, including cookery, rugby and a trip to the pantomime. However, pupils in key stages 3 and 4 do not have the same suite of well-considered activities to broaden their experiences, talents and interests.

What the school should improve

• The delivery of the curriculum is too variable. Some teachers do not choose appropriate learning activities to implement the intended curriculum, nor do they use effective approaches to check pupils' understanding. This means that some pupils' subject knowledge is not secure. The school should equip teachers to deliver the curriculum consistently well, and to check how well pupils are learning.
• The approaches for identifying pupils' additional needs and the specific barriers that they may face are underdeveloped. This includes for pupils with SEND. This means that teachers do not have the information that they need to make suitable adaptations to the delivery of the curriculum, which hinders pupils' achievement. The school should ensure that information about pupils' additional needs is shared with staff and that staff are suitably trained to adapt the delivery of the curriculum so that pupils learn as well as they should.
• Pupils' levels of attendance are not high enough. Persistent absence is too high. This means that some pupils, including those on part-time timetables, miss essential learning. The school should improve its work in ensuring that pupils attend school regularly and on time.
• Pupils in key stages 3 and 4 do not benefit from a wide range of experiences to enhance their curriculum knowledge or nurture their talents and interests. This means that these pupils have limited experiences beyond the classroom. The school should map out wider development opportunities, including those to enhance the curriculum, to support pupils' talents and interests and their personal development.
• The school does not consistently apply its policies and procedures across the three separate sites. Consequently, staff and pupils do not always understand the school's expectations and some procedures are not followed effectively. The school should ensure that all stakeholders have clarity around shared policies and procedures and how these should be implemented.
• The school premises for key stage 4 pupils are not fit for purpose. This means that some pupils miss out on their entitlement to full-time education, as they cannot attend as often as they should. Other pupils experience poor-quality premises that are unsuitable as a place of learning. The management committee must ensure that suitable premises are arranged urgently so that all pupils can attend school full-time and in a suitable learning environment.

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