Wide-ranging improvements prompt positive Ofsted report for Les Voies School

The school, which is for children between nine and 16 years old with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, was described as inadequate in many areas in an inspection in October 2022.

This follow-up monitoring inspection found that the school had ‘responded positively to the findings of the previous inspection’.

Headteacher Jon Furley said he wanted to recognise the hard work of staff and the commitment to the students and their families.

‘I am pleased that the extensive development of the curriculum has been recognised, along with our shared vision of trying to ensure our students get a high quality education,’ he said.

‘I want to thank the parents for their unwavering support and the students for trying to better themselves every day.’

Since the last report, the school has appointed a new assistant headteacher, special educational needs coordinator and behaviour and attendance leader. The report found that school leaders have quickly developed and implemented an improvement plan focused on systematically tackling the areas judged ineffective at the previous inspection, resulting in an improved quality of education, behaviour and attitudes. The revised approach has raised expectations across the school.

Director of Education Nick Hynes said that Mr Furley and his team deserved a huge amount of credit for successfully implementing an improvement plan.

‘The monitoring report shows improvements are widespread across all areas,’ he said.

‘I know the school will continue improving under Jon’s leadership.’

Inspectors said it was evident that pupils and staff could see the school was already changing for the better.

However they also identified areas where the school needed to continue its focus, stating that there was not yet a fully developed understanding of the crucial knowledge pupils need to learn.

‘I know Jon and the whole Les Voies community were disappointed by their formal inspection report last year,’ said Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen.

‘But the response has been excellent and everyone involved should be proud of this monitoring report.’

• The monitoring report can be read in full here