Pupils encouraged to develop a love of reading at Halton School

OFSTED RATING: Halton School, Main Street, Runcorn (Picture: Google Street View)

Written by David Norbury

A Cheshire school caring for pupils with emotional and behavioural needs has had a good report from Ofsted.

His Majesty's Inspector (HMI) Mark Quinn says the overall effectiveness of Halton School is good as is the quality of education, the behaviour and attitudes of the pupils, their personal development and the leadership and management of the school.

The school is situated on two sites, approximately two miles apart, at 31 Main Street, Runcorn and at Halton Station Road, Sutton Weaver.

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A three-day inspection found pupils at the independent special school show improvement in their behaviour as staff have 'high expectations' and are 'calmly persistent' in getting pupils to behave well. Pupils told the inspectors they enjoy coming to the school. Pupils and staff get on well with each other and pupils feel safe. They said their teachers care for them well.

They know that leaders and teachers want them to do their best and teachers enable pupils to achieve as well as they can. Leaders have designed a curriculum which meets the needs and interests of pupils.

Teachers typically have a secure knowledge of the subjects that they teach and share their expertise with each other. They frequently check that pupils have remembered recent learning.

Most pupils achieve as well as they can across most of the curriculum and many leave with useful qualifications which help them with their next steps in employment, training or education.

Leaders encourage pupils to develop a love of reading and over time, most pupils become more fluent and accurate readers. The key to enabling pupils to re-engage with learning at the school is said by the HMI to be the work that leaders and staff do to improve pupils’ behaviour with staff managing pupils’ behaviour effectively.

Pupils’ wider personal development is well supported by a range of activities within the curriculum and beyond. Outdoor and adventurous activities help pupils to develop resilience and confidence.

Teachers provide pupils with the knowledge that they need to stay safe. The HMI made one suggestion for improvement at the school to help pupils build their learning as strongly as possible. Children at the school are aged 7 to 18.

During the visit, among other aspects, the inspection paid particular attention to English, including reading, physical education and education to help young people stay healthy, safe and prepared for life (PSHE).

The inspectors visited lessons, looked at pupils’ work and talked with pupils about their learning. They also observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around the school.

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