Papworth Hall School, Cambridge

What is it like to attend this school?

Papworth Hall is a school that changes lives. Pupils typically join having developed negative views of education from the past. Many have not been to school for a long time. The school swiftly flips pupils' views of education, and the world around them, on their head. Pupils grow to see school as a place of happiness, kindness and warmth. A place where they can be themselves and thrive. High-quality therapeutic provision means that pupils receive individually tailored guidance to help them continue to develop socially and emotionally.

Adults want the best for pupils. These high expectations, which pupils rise to meet, mean that pupils learn well. They are guided equally well to develop their social and emotional skills. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around the school is exceptional. They build positive relationships with adults which result in them feeling safe and secure in school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils typically join the school with significant gaps in their knowledge. This is because of the disjointed education they have experienced in the past. The school has designed a curriculum that effectively sets about helping pupils learn the important knowledge they have missed. Pupils learn well because the curriculum is well matched to their abilities and targets in their education, health and care (EHC) plans. Pupils build more secure foundations in their knowledge on which to build in the future.

The school's assessment of what pupils know and can do is rigorous and precise when they join the school. This means pupils start to access the right curriculum for them from the start of their time in school. At times, though, in lessons teachers do not always check how well pupils have fully understood. This means that sometimes pupils can be asked to attempt activities that may be too easy or too hard for them.

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