The Haven School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 November 2023

The school's name, 'The Haven', sums up exactly what it is for pupils: a safe place where pupils can be themselves without fear of judgement. Pupils think highly of their school and are proud to attend. Many have had negative experiences in other settings and praise how understanding the staff are at this school. The level of care here is exceptional. Adults throughout the school get to know pupils very well. Strengths in relationships are pivotal in promoting positive pupils' behaviour; this proves highly successful. Staff help pupils improve their behaviour through a consistent and caring approach. Pupils are thoughtful and supportive towards one another. They and their parents and carers agree that attending this school transforms pupils' lives and prospects. Relationships are extremely strong between school, pupils and their home settings. Those responsible for leadership and governance have a shared ambition for what can be achieved by the pupils. Leaders have high expectations, recognising that the school's initial priority is getting pupils ready to learn. This is achieved by offering high-quality pastoral support. Pupils do well here, gaining the qualifications they need for their next steps in education, training or employment.

What the school should improve

• The school does not ensure that pupils are given enough chances to apply their literacy or numeracy skills and knowledge. Therefore, some pupils do not reach the depth of understanding or quality of work they are capable of. The school should ensure that pupils are given sufficient opportunities to apply new knowledge so that they produce high-quality work that demonstrates an increased depth of learning.
• Sometimes teachers do not make the best use of what they know about pupils' previous learning experiences. This means they do not always match the curriculum closely enough to pupils' needs to enable them to make the best possible progress. The school should ensure that assessment information is used effectively so that teachers consistently provide pupils with work that closely matches their needs and enables them to make even better progress.

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