River Tees Hospital School

Inspection of a good school: River Tees Hospital School Sulby Avenue, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough TS3 8RD

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Outcome

There has been no change to this school's overall judgement of good as a result of this ungraded (section 8) inspection. However, the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might be outstanding if a graded (section 5) inspection were carried out now. The school's next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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Outcome

The headteacher of this school is Adam Burns. This school is part of River Tees Multi- Academy Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer (CEO), Christina Jones, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Patrick Cambage.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils who attend River Tees Hospital School are supported to become confident individuals who have high aspirations for the future. All pupils come from a background where they have suffered trauma and/or significant illness. Before attending the school, many pupils have been absent from education for long periods of time. Others had previously found it difficult to access learning or had felt negative about education.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school lives up to the staff mantra, ‘We change lives’. Pupils grow academically and socially. Through a combination of holistic therapy and a bespoke curriculum offer, pupils flourish. They become enthusiastic learners, studying for qualifications such as GCSEs, and are supported to access a place in further education or employment. Regardless of whether a pupil is part of the school due to a short-term hospital stay, or a longer-term placement, staff offer effective support.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Through the personal development curriculum, pupils develop a range of strategies to cope in the wider world. They learn how to be the best version of themselves. One pupil summed this up eloquently, ‘I like myself better now. Not only have I changed, but school has also helped me realise how I need to change. I like who I am now and will continue being this person.’ 3 and 4 July 2024

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

Many of the strengths of this school lie in the highly positive relationships that have been forged over time. The care and nurture shown by staff towards pupils is exceptional. Pupils learn to trust the adults and accept their guidance. Teachers have a wealth of subject knowledge and a rich experience of teaching pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They assess the gaps in pupils’ prior learning accurately and plan an ambitious bespoke curriculum so that pupils can catch up quickly. Teachers use a wide range of strategies to engage pupils in their learning. They promote positive attitudes towards learning in lessons by demonstrating consistency in routines and expectations.

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

Pupils experience success and make significant progress in their studies. Those on short- term placements transition successfully back into their home school. Pupils who are in school for longer periods of time are supported to achieve nationally recognised qualifications.

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

Staff establish a calm, positive environment in which to work. Pupils are keen to come to school. They develop reliable friendships based on mutual respect. Pupils are supportive of one another and complimentary when fellow pupils experience success.

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

Staff from different disciplines in the multi-academy trust work together to provide specific personal development support for pupils. This includes discrete therapeutic sessions as well as therapists supporting pupils in lessons. Staff also take advice from health care teams and social care. Pupils grow considerably in self-confidence and take part in more social activities in school and beyond. Many take part in the residential visit to Ford Castle. For many pupils, this is a notable achievement.

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

The school has excellent relationships with a variety of employers and further education provision. Pupils visit workplaces such as professional kitchens as part of their catering and hospitality studies. This provides a real insight into the world of work and pupils consider this to be highly motivational. Careers education is woven into the curriculum so that pupils are constantly being supported to think about their own career pathways. Pupils receive independent careers advice. Work placements are made available for older pupils as are college taster days. In recent years, all school leavers have gone on to further studies or have secured employment.

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

Trustees and members of the local governing board know the school very well. They hold leaders to account and steer the strategic direction of the school. Members of staff appreciate the steps taken to reduce their workload. Morale is high within the workforce. Adults relish the challenge and rewards of working at River Tees Hospital School.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 3 and 4 July 2024

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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.

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Background

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the predecessor school, Parkwood, to be good in May 2013.

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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.

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How can I feed back my views?

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

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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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). 3 and 4 July 2024

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School details

School category Academy special converter

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School details

Date of previous inspection 16 January 2019, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school operates on three different sites including bases at Acklam Road Hospital and James Cook Hospital.  All pupils who attend are either hospital patients or have been referred to the school through a specialist inclusion panel.  The provision of hospital education has been restructured in recent years moving from a service to a school-based establishment. This included the creation of the post of headteacher from September 2023.  Members of staff from this school also work in other schools across River Tees Multi- Academy Trust and vice-versa.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school's education provision. 3 and 4 July 2024

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 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with school leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, other senior leaders, subject leaders, class teachers and pupils. Further meetings were held with some support staff.  The lead inspector met also with representatives of River Tees Multi-Academy Trust and members of the local governing board.  The inspectors carried out deep dives into English, mathematics and science. For each deep dive, the inspector looked at curriculum planning, conducted joint lesson visits with leaders, spoke to pupils about their work and looked at pupils’ books and samples of their work. Aspects of the curriculum in foundation subjects were also considered during the inspection.  Prior to the inspection, the lead inspector reviewed documents on the school’s website,

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as well as published information about the school’s performance and previous Ofsted inspections.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in classrooms and around the school. They spoke with pupils about their views of the school and their learning, behaviour and safety.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the 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 considered responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Ofsted Parent View. The inspectors took the views of staff into account through a number of meetings as well as their responses to Ofsted’s staff survey.

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Inspection team

Mary Cook, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Ian Rawstorne His Majesty's Inspector 3 and 4 July 2024

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