A special school which takes students from across Bath & North East Somerset, as well as from other local authorities, is celebrating a positive Ofsted report.
Fosse Way School at Radstock supports children aged from three to 19 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Until last year, Fosse Way had a residential provision.
The 224-pupil school was visited by a team of four Ofsted inspectors on 20th January and their report was published on 17th March.
The new-style Ofsted report card system offers more detailed information and a five-point grading scale. Exceptional is the highest grade, followed by strong standard, expected standard and needs attention, with the lowest being urgent improvement.
Fosse Way achieved a strong standard in four areas – attendance and behaviour, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing, and post-16 provision.
It is the expected standard for leadership and governance, achievement, and curriculum and teaching, while early years provision is said to need attention. The school met safeguarding standards.
In their report, the inspectors note the low absence rate for students, and the positive relationships that school leaders build with parents, carers and external agencies. Pupils are praised for being “positive role models” and for showing positive attitudes when learning and at social times.
The report says that leaders’ highly ambitious inclusion strategy sits at the heart of the school’s work. Staff are skilled at identifying and assessing pupils’ individual needs, and the school’s bespoke curriculum pathways ensure they develop the appropriate knowledge and skills and achieve ambitious outcomes from their starting points.
Fosse Way’s personal development programme is said to be “ambitious and highly effective.”
Inspectors also commend the post-16 provision, noting: “The school has very high expectations for students in the sixth form. Students are extremely well prepared for later life. They are fully supported to progress into education, training and employment. This includes high-quality work experience and the development of skills for independent or supported living. This is having demonstrable impact on pupils’ lives.”
Fiona Skinner, headteacher at Fosse Way School, said: “This report highlights the many strengths that make Fosse Way School such a special place to learn and grow.
“It recognises our students’ excellent behaviour, our inclusive ethos, our strong personal development offer and the continued success of our sixth form.
“These are achievements we are extremely proud of, and they reflect the dedication, professionalism and care shown by our entire staff team every day.
“We are particularly pleased that the report celebrates the positive culture within the school and the way our students are supported to thrive both academically and personally.”
Responding to the inspectors’ findings that early years provision needs further improvement, she said: “As a school, we had already identified some areas in this provision which we wanted to develop and had begun implementing improvements before the inspection took place.
“It is encouraging that the inspectors recognised this progress, and we are pleased with the significant strides that have already been made. We remain fully committed to continuing this work so that our youngest learners receive the very best possible start to their education.”
Fosse Way School is a member of The Partnership Trust, a multi-academy trust of 17 schools across B&NES and Somerset. Its chief executive Emily Massey said: “Congratulations to all at Fosse Way School and its wider community on such a positive Ofsted report.
“Given the current challenges in SEND education it is testimony to the school that they achieve above national average results and, as the inspectors noted, prepare each and every one of their students so well for life beyond school.”
