This school continues to be outstanding 2019
“The school’s formal and informal curriculums work exceptionally well together to support pupils’ academic, social and personal development. Consequently, pupils continue to make outstanding progress, as well as gaining nationally recognised qualifications.”
“The leadership team has maintained the outstanding quality of education in the school since the last inspection. The broad and balanced curriculum inspires and engages pupils and students. The pastoral support provided throughout all key stages promotes independence, confidence, life skills and resilience. Preparation for the next steps in education or life is at the core of everything this school does extremely well. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school”
“Students move on from Alt Bridge to continue their education, gain employment or undertake internships. The vast majority of students are successful in their move and remain in employment, education or training.“
“The high staff-to-pupil ratio works to keep pupils safe. Staff are highly vigilant and are quick to notice any changes in a pupil’s behaviour or appearance and take appropriate action.”
“Staff go the extra mile to plan activities that will open pupils’ eyes and minds to new experiences.”
“Leaders have a clear rationale which supports very well pupils’ personal development across all key stages. Through a personalised approach, staff support each pupil to make the small steps of progress required to become confident, self-assured young people. Pupils talk with enthusiasm about their progress. “
“The teachers’ detailed planning engages and motivates every learner. During the inspection, pupils listened well and persevered with their tasks because lessons were well matched to their abilities and interests.”
“Parents were in agreement that the transition from primary school into Year 7 was very supportive and helped their children to settle quickly into their new school. A typical parental view was, ‘We were so worried when our child was moving school but we didn’t need to be. He settled so quickly and has grown and matured so much since going to high school. We are very proud of him and so happy with the school; it’s been fantastic for us all.’ “
Ofsted 2013 How Effective is the Provision?
Outstanding teaching is characterised by teachers making every effort to include and engage all students, whatever their ability or type of need. Computers and other forms of technology are expertly used to help promote learning. Teaching assistants are highly skilled and effective.
All groups of students are achieving exceptionally well; last year nearly a half made the progress expected of students in mainstream schools, albeit from much lower starting points.
The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students is exceptional; this helps to create a wonderful atmosphere of calm, fulfilment and enjoyment across the school day.
Outstanding attention to social and moral values is rewarded by a clearly harmonious atmosphere around the school. Girls and boys get on well with each other and there is no discrimination between groups. Older students often offer support to younger ones.
Students are constantly encouraged to aspire to more independence. They are proud when they are able to come to school on public transport or make their own way rather than to rely on school transport. Nearly a third of all students have achieved this landmark.
Forward Thinking
The headteacher and senior managers relentlessly seek improvement. There has not been a shred of complacency since the school was last judged outstanding three years ago. Minor areas for improvement have been comprehensively addressed. Attention to detail, clarity of vision, relentless drive and the pride that has been engendered in all staff gives this school an exceptional capacity to keep on improving.
How Effective are Leadership and Management
Truly inspirational leadership, management and governance and the strong determination of staff to improve their practice have moved teaching and learning on from good at the time of the last inspection, to that which is now outstanding.
Attention to school improvement is detailed and perceptive. Leaders and managers know that their school is outstanding but are also keen to help other providers to achieve this status. They are not precious and are outgoing in their efforts to help improve the lives of their students and help others to remain in their mainstream schools.
There is a very unique curriculum. This extends well beyond the National Curriculum and strongly promotes the inclusion of all pupils and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. There is a very high awareness of the hurdles students face in transferring to life after school. Older students are given exceptionally good guidance to help them understand and use what they have learned when they were younger. Every student is treated equally and has equal opportunities to succeed.
How Effective is Leaders’ Aspirations
Leaders’ aspirations and ambition to provide the very best for students is central to this school, leaders have continued, not only to maintain, but to raise achievement and the quality of care, for example, by the introduction of refined assessment procedures and by extending accreditation opportunities.
All staff feel very involved in decisions about the school’s improvement and as a consequence, they all share the same vision and high expectations. Middle managers conscientiously fulfil their responsibilities and are very effective in planning improvements to meet students’ changing needs. The headteacher has a very accurate view of the quality of teaching and learning and the members of the senior leadership team have taken effective steps to improve the quality of teaching overall.
Curriculum Provides
This outstanding school is a very happy learning community. Since its last inspection, it has built on its strengths and further improved the quality of education and care for its students. Self-evalutation is highly effective, giving leaders an extremely good understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for development. Senior leaders have very high expectations for the students and this ambition is conveyed to and shared by all staff and the governing body. As a result of these shared aspirations, an exceptionally clear vision for the school’s future and leaders’ record of sustaining improvement, the school has an outstanding capacity to improve further.
Students enjoy coming to school and make good progress in their learning and outstanding progress in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. This is as a result of the effective teaching and of the excellent care, guidance and support students receive.
Arrangements for safeguarding students are exemplary and students feel safe at all times. They are known very well as individuals and their differing needs are respected and supported.
The excellent curriculum provides a wealth of opportunities which engage and motivate students.
The rich curriculum provides excellent opportunities for students’ learning and personal development and for them to enjoy a variety of exciting experiences. Information and communication technology and other stimulating resources enhance learning consistently well. Varied programmes engage students’ interest and support their different learning needs highly effectively. This is evident, for example, in the social and communication programmes, have been developed for students with autistic spectrum conditions these are also of benefit to other students.
An extensive range of enrichment activities include highly motivating visits into the community combined with visiting speakers delivering aspects of the curriculum that are linked closely to the topics students are studying. Where it is appropriate, the school encourages the inclusion of parents and carers in these sessions.
Ofsted 2010 How Effective is the Provision?
“Teachers and support assistants know the students very well and have high expectations for what they can achieve.
There is a ‘can – do’ ethos in the school with constant encouragement of students to raise their self-esteem and to enable them to enjoy success.
The rich curriculum provides excellent opportunities for students’ learning and personal development and for them to enjoy a variety of exciting experiences.
Care procedures are outstanding and show that all students matter greatly as individuals. The excellent relationships between staff, students and their families are highly effective in ensuring students’ welfare, for example, as they join or leave school. Relationships are built on trust and mutual respect and on an individual approach to meeting students’ emotional and physical needs”
Forward Thinking
Alt Bridge is a forward thinking school. We strive to remain at the forefront of new ideas, constantly exploring and updating our technology and dynamic teaching strategies
Curriculum Provides
This outstanding school is a very happy learning community. Since its last inspection, it has built on its strengths and further improved the quality of education and care for its students. Self-evalutation is highly effective, giving leaders an extremely good understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for development. Senior leaders have very high expectations for the students and this ambition is conveyed to and shared by all staff and the governing body. As a result of these shared aspirations, an exceptionally clear vision for the school’s future and leaders’ record of sustaining improvement, the school has an outstanding capacity to improve further.
Students enjoy coming to school and make good progress in their learning and outstanding progress in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. This is as a result of the effective teaching and of the excellent care, guidance and support students receive.
Arrangements for safeguarding students are exemplary and students feel safe at all times. They are known very well as individuals and their differing needs are respected and supported.
The excellent curriculum provides a wealth of opportunities which engage and motivate students.
The rich curriculum provides excellent opportunities for students’ learning and personal development and for them to enjoy a variety of exciting experiences. Information and communication technology and other stimulating resources enhance learning consistently well. Varied programmes engage students’ interest and support their different learning needs highly effectively. This is evident, for example, in the social and communication programmes, have been developed for students with autistic spectrum conditions these are also of benefit to other students . An extensive range of enrichment activities include highly motivating visits into the community combined with visiting speakers delivering aspects of the curriculum that are linked closely to the topics students are studying. Where it is appropriate, the school encourages the inclusion of parents and carers in these sessions.
How Effective are Leadership and Management
Leaders’ aspirations and ambition to provide the very best for students is central to this school, leaders have continued, not only to maintain, but to raise achievement and the quality of care, for example, by the introduction of refined assessment procedures and by extending accreditation opportunities.
All staff feel very involved in decisions about the school’s improvement and as a consequence, they all share the same vision and high expectations. Middle managers conscientiously fulfil their responsibilities and are very effective in planning improvements to meet students’ changing needs. The headteacher has a very accurate view of the quality of teaching and learning and the members of the senior leadership team have taken effective steps to improve the quality of teaching overall.
Ofsted 2007 Main comments from the Ofsted
A copy of the full report can be obtained by clicking this link
Alt Bridge School Wellcroft Road Huyton Liverpool L36 7TA
Alt Bridge Ofsted report October 2007 – Headline Comments
• Alt Bridge is a good school.
• Achievement is good because teaching and learning is good.
• Personal development is strong…. every chance is taken to raise pupils self esteem.
• Pupils enjoy learning and take pride in their achievements.
• Pupils develop useful skills for the future because basic skills are taught exceptionally well.
• Care, support and guidance are outstanding, social development stands out. All pupils are treated as individuals.
• Teachers know pupils well and understand their learning needs. Support assistants make a strong contribution to the success of lessons.
• The excellent pastoral care offered by the school ensures that pupils feel safe, secure and confident as they learn.
• Leadership and management are good at all levels. This ensures that pupils make good progress in a caring environment; which is highly valued by pupils and parents.
• Effective monitoring and evaluation of teaching have resulted in consistently good teaching across the school.
Above are some of the main comments from the 2007 Ofsted Report.
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