Chesnut Lodge rated ‘good’ in latest inspection
● A WIDNES school has been praised by the education watchdog.
Chesnut Lodge on Green Lane underwent a short Ofsted inspection.
It is a special school which caters for pupils with complex physical and mental difficulties.
The last full inspection undertaken by Ofsted in November 2013 judged Chesnut Lodge to be ‘good’ overall and in the four main aspects assessed at that time.
This included the achievement of pupils, their behaviour and safety, the school’s leadership and management, and the quality of teaching.
A letter concerning the short inspection undertaken in mid-July this year sent to headteacher Heather Austin said the school continues to be ‘good’.
The document written by Ofsted inspector Will Smith said the leadership team has maintained the school’s ‘good quality of education’ and that ‘many things’ make Chesnut Lodge a good school.
The letter said: “You and your team have taken great care to ensure that the school is a safe and welcoming place where pupils learn well.
“Pupils speak positively about the school, particularly about their relationships with members of staff and each other.
“You have addressed the areas for improvement from the previous inspection in a robust and convincing manner.
“You have gone to great lengths to extend the frequency and scope of your partnership work with other schools.
“Keeping children safe is at the forefront of the school’s work and nothing is left to chance.
“The last inspection also highlighted the need to ensure that information about pupils’ attainment and progress is analysed effectively.
“The school’s information indicates that outcomes for pupils have improved sharply in the last two years.”
Next steps highlighted for the school by Ofsted include ensuring plans to improve are ‘ specific and ambitious’ and that the most able pupils are challenged systematically so they make the ‘fastest possible’ progress.
Further guidance from the education watchdog includes ensuring systems for tracking the proportion of pupils who are regularly absent from school are refined so this can be reduced.
Mrs Austin said: “As headteacher I am pleased that the inspection recognised the ‘unswerving commitment to helping all pupils develop socially and academically so that they can lead happy, healthy and successful lives’.
“We have noted the areas for development, and staff and governors are already working on these in line with the School Improvement Plan.
“We are extremely proud of the comments from our school community – parents, staff and students – and look forward to building on our significant achievements as we begin a new academic year.”