Silver Bridge School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 May 2024

Inclusivity is at the heart of Silver Bridge School. Pupils accept one another as unique individuals. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Adults understand pupils' needs well and provide effective support. Relationships between pupils and adults are warm. Pupils say that staff are kind and care about them. For many pupils, this is the first time they have had a positive experience in school. They feel safe and happy. Pupils make significant improvements in their social and emotional well-being from when they first join the school. The longer pupils are at the school, the more confident they become. Where needed, adults support pupils to manage their behaviour and emotions. Most pupils are polite and courteous. Students in the sixth form learn alongside their peers of different ages, in their 'base rooms'. Older students look after younger pupils. This gives them a clear role and responsibility. The school's wider offer is exceptional. It provides a range of rich experiences that broadens pupils' horizons. Pupils talk animatedly about these opportunities, such as a visit to the beach or planning and preparing a healthy meal. These experiences benefit and prepare pupils well for their lives beyond school.

What the school should improve

• The school has not identified the specific knowledge they want pupils to learn and remember in some areas of the curriculum. As a result, pupils do not build knowledge well. The school should ensure that the important knowledge they want pupils to learn is identified so that pupils build on what they know and remember more over time.
• Assessment is not used effectively to check pupils' understanding or identify any gaps they have. As a result, it is not clear what pupils know and can do. The school should ensure that assessment is used to identify what pupils remember, so they can precisely support next steps in learning.

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