The Mark Way School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 March 2025

Pupils excel at this exceptionally inclusive school. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with many entering the school having a history of poor attendance and various barriers to learning. Staff get to know pupils exceptionally well and provide them with highly individualised, ambitious and effective curriculum and support programmes, which enable them to achieve. Consequently, pupils leave with numerous qualifications and are very well prepared for their next steps, and they progress to education, employment or training extremely successfully. The school environment is exceptionally calm, nurturing and focused. Pupils typically understand the school's very high expectations for behaviour and embrace the values- based rewards system. Pupils feel safe, attend regularly and know that there is someone available to talk to if they have any concerns. A dedicated, highly effective well-being team assists pupils in developing social and communication skills extensively, supporting them to be ready to learn. Learning extends comprehensively beyond academics. Personal development is woven throughout everything the school does. An array of trips, clubs, visits and experiences enrich pupils' learning deliberately. The school ensures pupils acquire important knowledge about consent, relationships and online safety deeply. Pupils develop highly respectful attitudes towards differences and cultivate a growing understanding of democracy and the rule of law.

What the school should improve

• Occasionally, some staff do not apply the school's approaches to teaching early reading consistently. This slows some pupils' learning of phonics. The school should ensure that all staff have the knowledge and confidence to apply the early reading framework as the school intends.

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