St Bernard's School
Wood Lane, Louth, LN11 8RSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Bernard's School is a special school in Louth for ages 2 to 19. It is one of the 393 schools in Lincolnshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2013.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 13 March 2013, report published 15 April 2013
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 May 2024
The school's bespoke approach to the curriculum means that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive and achieve well. Many parents and carers have positive views. One parent, echoing the views of many, commented, 'My child attending St Bernard's has been transformational. They are happy and settled.' The school's values of 'communication, community, and connection' are part of everyday life. Pupils with speech, language and communication needs are supported well. For example, the school uses signing, symbols and electronic aids to help meet pupils' needs. Pupils enjoy a range of community visits, including trips to the Spout Yard Café, Lincolnshire Showground, and the local town centre. Sixth-form students appreciate the overnight stays in Norfolk and London. These opportunities help pupils to connect with places that are different from those they usually experience. Pupils benefit from an extensive offer of enrichment activities. A pupil, typical of many, commented, 'School is fun and there's plenty to do here.' For example, pupils can take part in handball, archery and Makaton clubs. Students in the sixth form are provided with high-quality work experience opportunities. They can mentor younger pupils as part of their childcare studies and work in the school kitchen as part of their catering course. Pupils are fully prepared for their next stages of education, training and employment.
What the school should improve
- The school has not clearly identified the key substantive and disciplinary knowledge that pupils must learn over time in some subjects. As a result, these subject curriculums are not as ambitious and well sequenced as others. The school should ensure that all subject curriculums are equally ambitious, thus enabling pupils to build learning progressively over time.
- While leaders are taking steps to improve the attendance of pupils, too many pupils do not yet attend as well as they should. This means that they are not benefiting from the full education that is provided. The school should ensure that strategies to reduce absence change the attitudes and culture of attendance for these pupils over time, enabling all pupils to benefit from the school's good provision.
Pupil numbers and mix
115 pupils on roll, with places for 110
Schools near St Bernard's School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humberston Park School | 12 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| St Lawrence School | 12 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Woodlands Academy | 13 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 5.1 |
| The Eresby School, Spilsby | 14 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Venture Independent School | 14 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- INSPIRE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Helen Clifton
- Phone
- 01507603776
- Address
- Wood Lane, Louth, LN11 8RS
- Local authority
- Lincolnshire
- URN
- 142309
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.