Newark Orchard School on London Road, Balderton receives positive Ofsted report

A special school’s new headteacher has said he is “thrilled” following a recent Ofsted inspection.

Newark Orchard School, on London Road, Balderton was reported to have taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous Ofsted inspection in 2019, when it was rated good.

Ofsted no longer grades schools with a single-word judgement such as ‘Good’, but are graded on whether they have maintained the standards from their previous inspections.

Orchard School caters for pupils aged from three to 18 and provides for a wide range of complex needs in brand new, purpose built premises.

It offers a range of facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, an immersion room, a sensory room, soft play, life skills, and vocational skills along with a range of specialist curriculum rooms including Food Tech, D&T, Art and Science.

The report stated that pupils in the school, all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), said that staff are “caring and supportive”.

The school environment was described as being calm and welcoming.

Matt Joyce, the school’s new headteacher who started in September, said: "We are thrilled at the result of our recent Ofsted inspection. At Newark Orchard, we pride ourselves on delivering specialist education and support to our young people.

“We strive to help our students achieve a life of independence, joy and confidence. We are very pleased that Ofsted was able to see this in action."

The report said the school’s curriculum is ambitious and consists of carefully planned curriculum pathways that meet pupils’ different needs.

Staff were reported to “build personalised goals for pupils into lessons throughout the school day, based on pupils’ education, health and care plans (EHC plan)”.

In addition, the inspector said in the report that staff receive training to support pupils with complex physical and medical needs in accessing the curriculum.

The report states: “Pupils, including those in the sixth form, take part in a wide range of activities that help them prepare for adulthood.

“For example, pupils learn about personal care, cooking, managing money and how to use public transport. Pupils also learn about diversity and equality.

“However, they do not recall what they have been taught about other cultures and faiths accurately or in great depth.”

The report said that the school needs to improve its personal development offer, and that it doesn’t ensure that “pupils develop a secure understanding of all aspects of British society and different faiths and cultures”.

Laura Redfern, the chairman of governors at the school, said: “I am so pleased with the report and that we have had good recognition of how fantastic the school is.

“I spend a lot of time at the school and I am very passionate about it and seeing how well it prepares the pupils for the future.”