Future First Independent School, Birmingham

What it's like to be a pupil at Future First Independent School

This is a small school with a new staff team and a reinvigorated ambition to provide for pupils who have had negative experiences of schools in the past. Here, pupils find a caring team of staff, a warm welcome and a curriculum designed to inspire them and prepare them for later life. Pupils are safe and feel secure in this small setting because of the positive, respectful relationships between staff and pupils. Bullying is rare, and pupils have faith in school staff to resolve issues. They feel valued and know that their views and opinions are listened to. There is a relaxed but purposeful ethos in which pupils are engaged and work hard. They behave very well and treat one another warmly and with sensitivity. Despite many of them having missed significant periods of schooling in the past, their attendance here is notably better than at previous settings. Pupils enjoy coming to school and talk about the difference the short time here has made to their confidence and learning. They appreciate the small groups and the help they get. The quality of pupils' work is improving, but current inconsistencies in teaching and expectations mean they are not achieving as well as they could in some areas of the curriculum. Many aspects of the school's work are at an early stage of implementation due to it having recently reopened following a long period of closure. Pupils are beginning to benefit from a range of experiences and personal development opportunities. However, the programme is not yet fully embedded and lacks a coherent structure. That said, pupils relish the practical and vocational elements of the school's curriculum. This includes lessons in construction, hospitality and animal care. They appreciate how these opportunities are not available to many pupils their age and that they could lead to work in later life.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• • Leaders should put in place effective strategies to support pupils to gain secure foundational knowledge in English and mathematics. • Leaders should ensure that teaching is effective, underpinned by consistently high expectations and embedded throughout the school so that pupils make successful progress across the curriculum. • Leaders should improve the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities so that learning is adapted as necessary, enabling pupils to achieve well. • The proprietor should ensure that all the independent school standards are met fully and consistently. • The proprietor should strengthen the personal development offer to ensure that it is coherent, well planned and meets the needs of all pupils effectively.

This school excels at welcoming pupils who have struggled in traditional education and helping them rediscover their love of learning. The calm, respectful environment and strong relationships between staff and pupils create genuine security and wellbeing. The practical, vocational curriculum is thoughtfully designed around pupils' interests and career pathways, giving them meaningful goals and real-world skills.

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

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