South Shropshire specialist school rated 'requires improvement' by Ofsted

Compass Community School Vicarage Park, in Stottesdon between Cleobury Mortimer and Bridgnorth, says improvements will continue following a visit by Ofsted between September 30 and October 2. 

• Sign up today to get all the latest news headlines from Shropshire and Mid Wales delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter

While the school was rated 'good' in three of the four inspection sub-areas and said to meet the independent school standards, inspectors identified concerns with the quality of education, resulting in an overall rating of 'requires improvement'. The school caters for eight- to 18-year-olds with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Ofsted said the school had not ensured that staff have the subject-specific knowledge that they need, and criticised it for not always checking pupils' understanding or matching learning activities sufficiently well to pupils' needs.

Despite these concerns, the report praised the school for fostering a "friendly community". Pupils were said to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in the school's extensive grounds, including horse riding, animal care, and local walks. 

However, for some pupils, the report said adaptations were "not fully meeting their needs in some areas of learning". It added that the delivery of the curriculum was "inconsistent".

Outlining where the school needed to improve, the report said: "The school has not ensured that staff are supported to have the subject-specific knowledge that they need to teach some of the subjects that they are required to. 

"This means that pupils' learning and achievement is not as strong as it could be across the curriculum. The school should ensure that staff are provided the professional learning and support that they need to deepen their subject-specific expertise, so that they can deliver and adapt the curriculum for pupils consistently well. 

"Sometimes, the school does not check pupils' understanding or match learning activities sufficiently well to pupils’ needs. As a result, some learning tasks can be too easy or too hard. This leads to pupils feeling unsettled and unable to engage with learning. 

"The communication strategies used by pupils to express their wants, needs and ideas are not always consistently supported. This reduces pupils’ ability to express their feelings and emotions and impacts upon the development of their independence. 

"The school should strengthen their communication strategies, making use of therapeutic services on offer when doing so."

While the quality of education was rated 'requires improvement', other areas - the behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management - all received a 'good' rating. 

A spokesperson for Compass Community School Vicarage Park said: "A new leadership team - including three new class teachers - had been in post just four weeks at the time of inspection and has already driven rapid progress. 

"Our students’ needs are extremely complex and include severe learning difficulties, ADHD, autism, mental health issues and trauma. Ofsted recognised our learners’ personal development, their positive attitudes and the effective leadership now in place. 

"Safeguarding is secure and all independent school standards are met. Since the visit, improvements will continue to ensure that Vicarage Park offers a nurturing, consistent environment where our students are happy, settled and thriving."

The report can be read here.