Pupil Progress and Assessments

As a special school for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities, all our pupils are working below the expected levels of the national tests at the relevant key stages. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for our children to be entered for these tests. In Key Stage 4, pupils work towards qualifications and appropriate accreditations. 

Unlike the standard national curriculum, at special schools there is no expectation that a child will achieve a particular level by a given age or make progress at a predetermined rate. However, attainment of a level by a particular age helps identify likely rate of progress using the Connecting Steps assessment tool.  

Our assessments are based on professional judgment of staff. Teachers use their knowledge of the child, consider the contexts in which learning takes place and gather evidence from a variety of sources, to support their decisions and to make their judgements based on everyday activity and continual monitoring and assessment. These judgements are moderated both internally and externally with professionals from other schools. 

End of Key Stage Pupil Progress

Progress at End of Key Stage 4 2023

16 pupils completed Key Stage 4 (YR11) in summer 2023.

Mean Progress (01/09/21-01/06/23) across Key Stage 4 (start of Y10 to end of Y11) in English and maths 

Accreditation 2022-23

• Pupils who completed Key Stage 4 achieved accreditation in English, Maths, Science, Personal Development, ICT, DT, C&N, Art, Music, Expressive Arts, PE and Careers education. 

• 9 pupils achieved AQA Unit Awards in Music, PE, and Careers and through their College Links taster sessions.  

• Entry Level Certificates were achieved in Maths, English, Science, DT, and ICT.   

• Accreditation was also achieved by four pupils in the ASDAN Transition Challenge Award, and by 8 pupils in the Careers Education and Experiencing Work Short Course.  

• In the ASDAN Personal Development Programme 8 pupils were awarded the gold award and 1 pupil was awarded the silver award. 

• 8 pupils passed their Trinity Arts Bronze Level, (Level1) Arts Award and 4 pupils attained their Arts Award Discover Award. 

• 8 pupils gained their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. 

 Accreditation-Core Subjects 2022-23 

• In ELC maths all pupils entered achieved their estimated grade; seven pupils achieved Entry Level 3 and two pupils achieved Entry Level 2  

• In ELC English, all pupils entered achieved their estimated grade; five pupils achieved Entry Level 3, three pupils achieved Entry Level 2 and one pupil achieved Entry Level 1. 

• In ELC Science, all pupils entered achieved their estimated grade; eight pupils achieved Entry Level 3 and 1 pupil achieved Entry Level 2. 

• Year 11 pupils achieved a total of 83 certificates for unit awards across the curriculum. 

Destination of YR 11 Leavers 2022-23 

• 5 pupils moved on to 16-19 provision at SEND schools. 

• 9 pupils moved on to Foundation Learning courses at college. 

• 1 pupil moved on to a 16 -25 provision at a local SEND college. 

• 1 pupil hospital education. 

Progress at End of Key Stage 3 2023

18 pupils completed Key Stage 3 (Y9) in summer 2023.  

Mean Progress (01/09/20-01/06/23) across Key Stage 3 (start of Y7 to end of Y9) in English and maths 

Progress at End of Key Stage 2 2023 

3 pupils completed Key Stage 2 (Y6) in summer 2023. Their mean attainment was as follows:

Formal Teacher Assessment is as follows:  

• Reading-PK5- (one pupil); PK4 (two pupils) 

• Writing- PK4 (one pupil); PK3 (one pupil); PK2 (one pupil). 

• Maths- PK3 (two pupils); PK2 (one pupil). 

• Science- no pupils met the standard in science.  

Progress at End of Key Stage 1 2023

2 pupils completed Key Stage 1 (Y2) in summer 2023. 

Mean attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Y2) in English and maths can be seen in the table below:

Formal Teacher Assessment is as follows: 

• Reading- PK2 (two pupils). 

• Writing- PK2 (two pupils). 

• Maths- PK3 (one pupil); PK2 (one pupil). 

• Science- no pupils met the standard in science.  

PK1-PK6: Pupils working below the standard of the national curriculum assessments and engaged in subject-specific study

Pupil Performance Data

Year 6 Swimming

We believe that swimming is an important life skill and carries numerous benefits for everyone who does it; from developing fitness and confidence to improving self-esteem and personal safety. Throughout every primary class we have swimming lessons in addition to PE every week. We also have a swimming teams who enter competitions and have had national success and lessons for our non-swimmers too.

The swimming competency of our Year 6 cohort (2022-23) is as follows:

• 100% can swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.
• 100% can use a range of strokes effectively.
• 0% can perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.