Celebration time at Wokingham Southfield School
Southfield School in Wokingham is this week celebrating the publication of a ‘good’ Ofsted report following an inspection in March.
The two-day visit by Ofsted inspectors saw the Wokingham special school for students with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, being ranked good in almost every area in its latest inspection report, even achieving a number of outstanding ratings. The inspectors evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school including its residential services as well as achivements and standards, personal development and well-being, teaching and learning, curriculm and other activites, care, guidance and support and leadership and management.
The school, located on Gipsy Lane in Wokingham, has 50 students on its roll aged between 11 and 16-years-old.
Inspectors were impressed with the school saying it ‘provides a good education and continually strives to improve the learning opportunities for all its students.’ Lead inspector Mike Smith wrote to students and thanked them for making him feel welcome during his visit to the school and he made a ‘special mention to the members of the school council who represented their school maturely.’
Inspectors said there the Wokingham school had many strengths including its ‘smooth running’ where staff ‘enable students to make the best of the learning opportunities’ and pupil achievement is ‘at the heart of all planning’. Students were praised for how well they got on with each other and with the adults of the school and inspectors were impressed with ‘their loyalty and support.’ One student said: ‘They treat you like an adult here, and don’t shout.’
Wokingham Students have a good understanding of the school rules which keep them safe and secure. They all enjoy practical activities and staff ‘are dedicated to improving the life chances for all students.’ One parent told the inspectors: ‘I would just like to say that I think the school is amazing. The staff have been a real life saver when things have been hard and they could not have helped us more. They are great!’.
The inspectors noted when they join Southfield School, Wokingham many students have attainment levels below the national average, as a result of poor attendance and behaviour. However they also noted that by the end of year 9, ‘students are attaining national average results in English, maths, science and information and communication technology (ICT).’ One parent said: ‘My son has made great progress in his reading and really enjoys his time at college. We have seen an improvement in his behaviour at home, he talks about things calmly and listens more.’ Many students also do well in their GCSE examinations. Individual student targets are monitored on a daily basis and they were praised by inspectors for having ‘challenging targets for improvement’.
Inspectors praised the Wokingham school highlighting the effective curriculum which meets students needs. The school offers a range of learning opportunities ‘that promote good academic progress and personal development.’ During this time many of the students learn useful skills that will help them either in the work place or in further education. The school has a very successful work experience scheme owing to their excellent partnerships with local businesses and employers.
Some of the students who attend Southfield are boarders. Inspectors said ‘students respond very well to the warm, family feel of the provision’ and there was ‘a high standard of care’. Inspectors were impressed that action points raised from the previous inspection in June 2007 had been fully addressed.
Whilst attendance remains an issue for some students, ‘many students make good and excellent improvements in their rate of attendance’. Inspectors praised the school for always thinking about how to improve and make students’ progress even better.
Wokingham Borough Council
The two-day visit by Ofsted inspectors saw the Wokingham special school for students with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, being ranked good in almost every area in its latest inspection report, even achieving a number of outstanding ratings. The inspectors evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school including its residential services as well as achivements and standards, personal development and well-being, teaching and learning, curriculm and other activites, care, guidance and support and leadership and management.
The school, located on Gipsy Lane in Wokingham, has 50 students on its roll aged between 11 and 16-years-old.
Inspectors were impressed with the school saying it ‘provides a good education and continually strives to improve the learning opportunities for all its students.’ Lead inspector Mike Smith wrote to students and thanked them for making him feel welcome during his visit to the school and he made a ‘special mention to the members of the school council who represented their school maturely.’
Inspectors said there the Wokingham school had many strengths including its ‘smooth running’ where staff ‘enable students to make the best of the learning opportunities’ and pupil achievement is ‘at the heart of all planning’. Students were praised for how well they got on with each other and with the adults of the school and inspectors were impressed with ‘their loyalty and support.’ One student said: ‘They treat you like an adult here, and don’t shout.’
Wokingham Students have a good understanding of the school rules which keep them safe and secure. They all enjoy practical activities and staff ‘are dedicated to improving the life chances for all students.’ One parent told the inspectors: ‘I would just like to say that I think the school is amazing. The staff have been a real life saver when things have been hard and they could not have helped us more. They are great!’.
The inspectors noted when they join Southfield School, Wokingham many students have attainment levels below the national average, as a result of poor attendance and behaviour. However they also noted that by the end of year 9, ‘students are attaining national average results in English, maths, science and information and communication technology (ICT).’ One parent said: ‘My son has made great progress in his reading and really enjoys his time at college. We have seen an improvement in his behaviour at home, he talks about things calmly and listens more.’ Many students also do well in their GCSE examinations. Individual student targets are monitored on a daily basis and they were praised by inspectors for having ‘challenging targets for improvement’.
Inspectors praised the Wokingham school highlighting the effective curriculum which meets students needs. The school offers a range of learning opportunities ‘that promote good academic progress and personal development.’ During this time many of the students learn useful skills that will help them either in the work place or in further education. The school has a very successful work experience scheme owing to their excellent partnerships with local businesses and employers.
Some of the students who attend Southfield are boarders. Inspectors said ‘students respond very well to the warm, family feel of the provision’ and there was ‘a high standard of care’. Inspectors were impressed that action points raised from the previous inspection in June 2007 had been fully addressed.
Whilst attendance remains an issue for some students, ‘many students make good and excellent improvements in their rate of attendance’. Inspectors praised the school for always thinking about how to improve and make students’ progress even better.
Wokingham Borough Council
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