The Island Project School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 January 2024

Pupils are very well cared for at this school. Adults are well trained and treat pupils kindly. They know how to support them with both their learning and behaviour. Some pupils have had a difficult time in previous schools. Some have been out of education for a while before they arrive. The Island Project gives them a fresh start and helps them make future plans. Pupils' behaviour can be challenging, but staff manage it calmly. There are high levels of staff supervision. This means any unkind behaviour does not go unchecked, and pupils are kept safe. Pupils enjoy coming to school and make progress. As well as classroom learning, staff take pupils out and about to different places. This helps to build their confidence. It also gets them used to everyday situations and different people. There is a healthy culture of putting pupils first. Leaders and staff have high expectations. They are committed to giving pupils a voice and supporting them to make the most of life. Parents and carers describe the school's work as life-changing. They praise the way staff understand their children's needs and keep them informed about what is happening. Inspection evidence supports these views.

What the school should improve

• The school's links with employers and colleges have reduced post-pandemic. This has narrowed the range of extra opportunities open to older pupils. The school should find ways to link with more employers and colleges to increase opportunities for pupils' work placements and future pathways.
• The level of expertise in education, particularly for the older pupils, is not as strong as that seen in therapeutic and behavioural support. This means that educational input is not as consistently strong. The school should continue to strengthen the level of staff teaching expertise so that it is as consistent as therapeutic and behavioural support.

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