OFSTED has said a Hereford school which transforms the lives of pupils continues to be good.

Inspectors visited Herefordshire Pupil Referral Service, based in Coningsby Street, and praised pupils for how they valued the small group setting and respectful environment.

Visiting the school to check whether it was still good, as judged at the last full inspection in 2017, inspectors said leaders were determined that pupils would leave the school able to flourish. Pupils, who valued working in the local community, tried their best to meet these expectations, they said.

RELATED NEWS:

Inspectors Claire Price and Chris Field said in their report, published on January 30, that pupils joined the school because they had experienced difficulties in the past. But they had settled in quickly at the welcoming school where bullying is rare and soon started to do well.

Pupils in key stage three, for children aged between 11 and 14, studied a broad and balanced curriculum and at key stage 4, for those aged between 14 and 16, pupils followed a curriculum that is adapted to their needs and aspirations.

In the hub, a hospital school provision, inspectors said pupils followed a carefully designed curriculum that supported their learning and their emotional or medical needs.

Want to stay up to date with all the latest news for Herefordshire? It's easy, just sign up for our free daily afternoon news briefing here and the day's top stories will be delivered straight to your inbox.

The school, with 53 pupils aged between 11 and 16, was praised for its well-sequenced curriculum in most subjects, but it needed improvement in other areas. The pair also said there was not a systematic approach in place to improving pupils’ reading skills, meaning some did not get the help they needed to read confidently.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities were also supported well, and leaders were praised for placing great importance on making sure that pupils, many of whom have had difficulty in managing their behaviour in the past, know how to get along with others.

Personal, social and health education (PSHE) was also said to be central to what the school does, with children learning life skills, such as money management, and how to keep themselves safe in the thorough relationships and sex education curriculum. This was supported by visiting speakers, trips, and visits.

OTHER NEWS:

In careers, pupils learned about the range of opportunities available to them and took part in work experience placements.

There was also an extensive range of activities that develop their talents and interests, such as watersports, boxing, citizenship activities, outdoor education, bushcraft, gardening, and cooking.

After the inspection on December 6 and 7, Ofsted said this allowed pupils to develop new skills and to develop resilience, also saying how safeguarding was effective.

Saying the school, under the leadership of interim headteacher James Bowdler, continued to be good, the inspectors added: "Pupils say that attending Herefordshire Pupil Referral service has transformed their life."