Baycroft School

Inspection of a good school: Baycroft School Gosport Road, Stubbington, Fareham, Hampshire PO14 2AE

p.1

Inspection dates: 27 and 28 February 2024

p.1

Outcome

Baycroft School continues to be a good school.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Baycroft is a very special place. Echoing the views of so many, one pupil told the lead inspector, ‘I really love this school.’ Pupils feel well cared for, safe and happy. Consequently, their attendance is high. Staff invest time and energy in developing pupils’ creativity, curiosity, independence, well-being and self-regulation. This helps pupils to achieve well.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Strong relationships between staff and pupils help to encourage highly positive attitudes. Pupils develop secure friendships with each other. While they occasionally fall out, staff help them to resolve issues swiftly and effectively. This leads to a harmonious and calm atmosphere. Social times are a positive experience for pupils. Some enjoy playing football or using the outdoor climbing equipment, while others enjoy talking with staff and their friends.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

There are high expectations for pupils’ learning. A well-designed curriculum is delivered effectively, which ensures that pupils receive a good quality of education. Importantly, pupils are prepared well for the future because of the knowledge and skills they learn. Many achieve several recognised qualifications.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff are extremely successful in preparing pupils for their next steps in education, training or employment. Many pupils successfully attend college when they leave. This is supported by a high-quality careers programme.

p.1

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school recognises the great importance its work has on the future lives of Baycroft pupils. Staff are rightly determined that all pupils achieve success. The school has a positive culture of learning. An infectious enthusiasm for learning is woven into the fabric of the school. 27 and 28 February 2024

p.1

2

The school has overhauled the curriculum since the last inspection. Pupils study a wide range of subjects as they move through the school. In key stage 4, the options process ensures that pupils experience a broad range of learning, including subjects such as engineering, horticulture and photography. A well-designed and well-sequenced curriculum sets out the key knowledge and skills pupils learn and develop in each subject. Importantly, sensible tweaks to the curriculum mean that it is highly personalised and bespoke to each pupil. As a result, pupils’ learning is highly successful.

p.2

2

Staff make effective checks on pupils’ learning. This helps them to identify what pupils know and can do and what they need to learn next. Staff use this information well to organise suitable support. The school rightly recognises that the way staff track pupils’ progress through the curriculum needs further refinement to ensure that it provides more precise information about how well pupils are learning the curriculum. As a result, the curriculum could be tailored even more to meet pupils’ needs so that they achieve highly in all areas of the curriculum.

p.2

2

Reading is a high priority across the school. A wide range of books ensures that pupils are exposed to different genres. Pupils enjoy reading and talk positively about their visits to the library. The school’s phonics programme is well thought through and is successful in supporting pupils’ reading. Additional literacy support also has a highly positive impact. Pupils read fluently and with confidence and enthusiasm.

p.2

2

Pupils’ behaviour is excellent. A set of clear explanations, known as ‘Baycroft Expects’, helps pupils to understand what is expected of them. Positive praise and reinforcement encourage pupils to make good choices. As a result, lessons are very calm and purposeful.

p.2

2

Pupils make great strides in their personal development during their time at Baycroft. Important topics and themes form part of the school’s extensive personal development programme. Several trips, clubs and events help pupils to develop their talents and interests. Pupils are actively involved in decision-making. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is of a high quality. As a result, pupils are well prepared to take their place in the world.

p.2

2

Staff describe themselves as the ‘Baycroft Family’. They are highly supportive of each other and are very well supported by school leaders and governors. Leaders prioritise staff workload and well-being. Governors have a deep knowledge and understanding of the school. They strike the right balance between holding leaders to account and supporting them. The school welcomes the challenge and support provided by the local authority.

p.2

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.2

3

 The school’s assessment arrangements do not consistently give the precise information it needs in all subjects about how well pupils are learning the curriculum. This means that the curriculum could be tailored even more to meet pupils’ needs so that they achieve highly in all areas of the curriculum. The school should refine the assessment arrangements so that it can use this information to inform the curriculum further.

p.3

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

p.3

Background

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in September 2013.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

p.3

Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

p.3

Further information

In the report, 'disadvantaged pupils' is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 27 and 28 February 2024

p.3

School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

p.4

School details

Date of previous inspection 30 October 2018, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

p.4

Information about this school

 Baycroft is a school for pupils aged 11 to 16, most of whom have moderate learning difficulties. Additionally, some have autism or severe learning difficulties.  The school is co-located with a mainstream secondary school.  All pupils have education, health and care plans.  The school uses five providers of alternative provision.

p.4

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held a wide range of meetings during the inspection. These included discussions with the headteacher, deputy headteacher and other curriculum leaders. Inspectors spoke to several staff during the inspection. 27 and 28 February 2024

p.4

5

 The lead inspector met with representatives of the governing body, including the chair of the governing body. He also spoke to a representative of the local authority.  The views of parents and staff were gathered through a range of sources, including Ofsted’s surveys and discussions. Inspectors spoke to pupils during the inspection.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these areas: English and reading, technology for learning/living, and preparation for adulthood. Deep dives included visiting lessons, looking at pupils’ work and talking to curriculum leaders, teachers and pupils. Inspectors also reviewed a range of documentation about selected pupils.

p.5

Inspection team

Shaun Jarvis, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

p.5

Inspection team

Alan Johnson Ofsted Inspector 27 and 28 February 2024

p.5

6

regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

6

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

6

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

6

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

6

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6