St Paul's School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 October 2024

This is a school where everybody cares deeply for all pupils to be safe, happy and successful. Trustees, leaders and staff have a tangible moral purpose. They get to know pupils well because they take the time to do so. Pupils appreciate this. They feel safe, valued, appreciated and respected here. Pupils have had negative experiences in their education before joining St Paul's and many have been excluded from other settings. The behaviour of pupils improves dramatically here because of the positive relationships between staff and pupils. In lessons, pupils mostly display positive attitudes and behaviour. At breaktimes, behaviour is less positive. The school is working effectively to help pupils put this right. The school wants all pupils to overcome the challenges they have faced in the past. There is a culture of 'trying something new' and 'never giving up'. Everyone wants pupils to achieve and make a positive contribution as well-rounded citizens. Leaders at all levels are determined to make the provision fulfil this ambition. The school has been unsettled since the last inspection due to changes in staffing and the school site. There is now renewed stability in the school, and it is in a secure position to move forward purposefully.

What the school should improve

• The way the school's curriculum is delivered is not consistent. As a result, most pupils have a varied learning experience and do not achieve as well as they could. The school should carefully evaluate the impact of the curriculum and support staff so that they enable all pupils to learn effectively.
• The school has recently changed its approach to supporting pupils' behaviour. Although initial indications are that it is having a positive impact, the behaviour of pupils is not as positive as it should be and learning time is not always maximised. The school should continue the work to implement a successful behaviour strategy and ensure that pupils spend a greater time engaged in learning and achieve more.
• Too many pupils miss too much of their education. As a result, these pupils develop gaps in their learning. The school should make sure that staff prioritise the most important learning for these pupils so that they access the most important aspects of the curriculum successfully.

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