Ofsted praise for school which ‘re-engages pupils with education’
Ofsted has praised Outwood Alternative Provision Eston, grading it as ‘Good’ in all areas following a three-day inspection. The report opens with praise for the wide range of activities available to students, saying, “Pupils enjoy a range of opportunities that enrich their experience of school. Those that include learning beyond the classroom are a strength of the school. Pupils develop their self-esteem and wider skills during activities such as camping, kayaking and other outdoor pursuits. Such opportunities are used effectively by the school to re-engage pupils with education.”
The school, on Burns Road, Eston, opened in 2021 and is an innovative centre for students who need behavioural, social, emotional, or mental health support. Its mission, driven by a deep commitment to inclusion, is to help vulnerable students who are at risk of exclusion. It operates with smaller classes, focusing on each student's personal development and well-being while upholding strong academic standards. The goal is to ensure that every student succeeds and transitions confidently into further education, employment, or training.
Highlights of the report include:
Pupils speak positively of the effective support that they receive from staff.
Leaders have high expectations of pupils’ conduct and achievement.
The school maintains an ambitious curriculum for pupils. It ensures that it is appropriately adapted to meet their needs.
The majority of pupils secure nationally recognised qualifications. These include GCSEs in subjects such as English, mathematics and science.
Reading has high importance in the school. Pupils read regularly as part of the school’s curriculum. They engage with these sessions positively.
Pupils expressed to inspectors that the school’s approach was helping them to manage their behaviour more effectively than they had in their previous schools.
The school provides pupils with a high-quality ‘personal development and growth’ curriculum. This includes the personal, social and health education and relationships and sex education curriculums.
Rachel Conway, head of centre at Outwood Alternative Provision Eston, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that the Ofsted inspection has recognised we continue to be a 'Good' school. The report validates our commitment to our students; in particular, we are incredibly proud that the inspectors highlighted how our pupils achieve well, making secure progress through the curriculum during their time at this school. This report affirms that our school is providing a high-quality, supportive, and effective learning environment for every student.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and the progress they make both academically and personally. We are grateful to our parents and carers for their ongoing support and to all of our staff for their hard work and commitment.”
