Sutton School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 May 2024

Pupils achieve well at Sutton School. Pupils are happy and excited to talk about their experiences here. Ambitious leaders focus on preparing pupils to be future citizens within the town of Dudley. Pupils embody the school motto 'safe, happy, learning - towards independence'. The school is highly ambitious for what pupils can achieve. Pupils have many opportunities to share their goals and ambitions with staff. All staff know pupils and their families very well. As a result, staff carefully plan alongside pupils and their parents and carers how to achieve pupils' ambitions for their future. These achievements include a range of academic and vocational qualifications and other accreditations. In addition, staff teach pupils skills to help them with their independence. Relationships between staff and pupils are highly respectful. Pupils and staff speak to each other with warmth and kindness. The school takes time to gather important information about each pupil before they join the school. Pupils' transition into school is strong. This means that staff understand pupils' needs early on. This helps pupils feel welcome and well understood. Consequently, pupils are settled and content from the very start. Pupils have a range of wider opportunities. This includes the well-known 'Sutton Productions' where pupils lead theatrical shows at the local civic hall.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the school has not identified with precision the essential component knowledge and skills it wants pupils to learn. This means that pupils are not accurately building on what they have previously learned in a clear and logical way. This slows pupils' learning. The school should identify the component knowledge and skills in all parts of the curriculum and ensure that they are built over time clearly and accurately.
• In some lessons and across different parts of the school day, the agreed systems to support pupils' speech, communication and language needs are not consistently implemented by staff. As a result, some pupils with complex needs are unable to effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas without the support of a familiar adult. The school should ensure that throughout the school day, all staff consistently implement the agreed communication systems so that all pupils can express themselves and be well understood at all times.

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