Cambian Potterspury Lodge School, Deanshanger & Paulerspury

What it's like to be a pupil at Cambian Potterspury Lodge School

A fresh start awaits pupils when they join Potterspury Lodge School. Parents and carers also value the new beginning the school provides and appreciate the care shown to their children. Pupils enter a calm, predictable environment where staff greet them warmly and check in on their wellbeing. This helps them settle quickly and develop a strong sense of belonging. Pupils say they feel accepted and supported, and pupils whose circumstances make them vulnerable work closely with trusted adults. They gain growing confidence in how to keep themselves safe, with staff helping them to understand risks and how to seek support, including when online. Pupils generally behave well. Staff take the time to understand each pupil's needs and help them regulate their emotions. Pupils feel listened to and genuinely cared for. Bullying is dealt with promptly, and pupils describe the school as welcoming, with staff and peers helping them feel comfortable. This positive climate means pupils enjoy school and learning, and their behaviour and attendance improve significantly over time. Staff work hard to understand each pupil's interests and use these to engage them in learning. They work closely with therapy and clinical teams to ensure the curriculum is delivered carefully for each pupil. At each step, staff consider pupils' strengths and their barriers to learning. As a result, pupils become more confident in managing their learning and are better able to participate successfully in lessons. By the time pupils leave the school, many achieve recognised national qualifications. Older pupils have clear aspirations and value the guidance they receive for their next steps, with most moving on to further education or training. Leaders ensure staff have a secure understanding of pupils' starting points. This helps staff to support pupils to build on what they know and move towards their individual goals.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• • The proprietor must continue to develop opportunities for staff training. This will ensure staff feel confident in how they teach the curriculum and reading, and to put in place adaptations to learning that enable all pupils to achieve consistently well. • Leaders should refine the post-16 curriculum, so it becomes as coherent and ambitious as the school's curriculum in earlier phases. Leaders should continue to support staff so they feel confident in delivering this developing area of the school's work. • Leaders should continue to enhance systems for pupils to develop their self‑regulation and engagement in all lessons by embedding the new rewards system so that positive learning behaviours are strengthened and sustained.

Potterspury Lodge School excels at helping vulnerable pupils feel accepted, supported and ready to learn in a calm, predictable environment. Staff take time to understand each pupil's needs and work closely with families, therapists and clinical teams to provide highly personalised support. Pupils make significant improvements in behaviour and attendance, gain confidence and independence, and leave with recognised qualifications and clear aspirations for their future.

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and pupils feel safe.

Art, music, sport, debate, enterprise, community visits, work experience, chapel-based music rehearsal and performance