The Sallygate School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 July 2025

Staff work to build positive, trusting relationships with pupils so they feel safe and secure at school. Pupils often arrive at the school with large gaps in their knowledge and understanding. Many have struggled to attend school regularly prior to joining. The school has developed its education offer to ensure pupils acquire essential knowledge and skills, such as learning to read. In addition, the school provides enriching and engaging activities that encourage pupils to attend school. The school works successfully to raise pupils' expectations of themselves. Pupils learn to work hard in order to achieve qualifications that provide a stepping stone to further education and training pathways. The school provides pupils with a high level of support to manage their behaviour. As a result, classrooms are generally settled and calm. Over time, staff work to support pupils to become increasingly able to manage their own emotions and behaviour. Within each school day, pupils benefit from regular and purposeful outdoor learning in the school's woodland areas. Pupils particularly enjoy 'life skills' sessions. Within these sessions, they learn to cook a range of dishes and begin to prepare for independent living in the future. Through the school's enrichment programme, pupils have opportunities to explore and experience a range of leisure activities, such as fishing and golf. As well enjoying these activities, pupils benefit from opportunities to socialise and spend time with one another outside of school.

What the school should improve

• The school has not ensured that teachers' subject knowledge, and knowledge of how to teach each subject effectively, is consistent across the curriculum. Consequently, in some subjects, some teachers explain learning less effectively and some pupils do not achieve as well as they might. The school should ensure that, over time, teachers are supported to become increasingly expert across the subjects they teach.
• The school has not ensured that teachers know how to adapt the curriculum to align with pupils' starting points. As a result, sometimes, some pupils find learning too easy, while others need high levels of adult support to be able to access a task. The school should ensure that teachers know how to adapt learning based on what pupils know already and need to learn next.
• Occasionally, teachers' checks on pupils' learning are less precise and purposeful than they might be. The school should ensure that across the subjects, teachers are clear about what pupils are working towards and the small steps they need to take to get there.

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