St Anne’s School and Sixth Form College is a special school located in Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire, catering for pupils aged two to nineteen with severe learning difficulties, including those with profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism spectrum disorder. The school has recently undergone significant changes in leadership, with a new headteacher appointed in January 2023, alongside new staff members. The school relocated to a new building in September 2022, which has contributed to a fresh environment for learning.
The recent inspection, conducted on 27 and 28 June 2023, rated the overall effectiveness of the school as good across various categories, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, early years provision, and sixth-form provision. The school is characterized by a caring and welcoming atmosphere where pupils feel valued and safe. Strong relationships between staff and pupils foster a sense of community, with pupils expressing that they feel part of a family. Staff maintain high expectations for pupil achievement and behaviour, contributing to a calm and orderly environment conducive to learning.
Pupils benefit from a broad and relevant curriculum tailored to meet their individual needs, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future educational and life experiences. The curriculum is designed to support effective communication, allowing pupils to express their wishes, feelings, and concerns. The school emphasizes the importance of reading, with various initiatives to promote literacy, including events featuring authors and sensory storytelling. The reading programme is well-structured, enabling pupils to develop confidence in their reading abilities, with staff trained to support diverse learning needs.
While the school excels in many areas, there are aspects that require improvement. In the early years provision, opportunities for meaningful and purposeful learning in outdoor settings are limited, which affects the development of children's knowledge and skills. Leaders recognize the need for staff training to enhance support for children in these areas. Additionally, there is variability in how staff document incidents related to restrictive physical intervention, leading to insufficient oversight of such incidents. Leaders are encouraged to ensure consistent record-keeping and to analyze trends in the use of restrictive physical intervention to take timely action when necessary.
The school has effective safeguarding arrangements in place, with staff trained to identify and support pupils at risk. The leadership team has been proactive in ensuring that all staff receive relevant training, and there is a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding protocols among the staff. The school’s commitment to personal development is evident, with pupils learning about healthy relationships, mental and physical health, and safety through the personal, social, and health education curriculum.
Overall, St Anne’s School and Sixth Form College demonstrates a strong commitment to providing a supportive and effective educational environment for its pupils. The leadership team is focused on continuous improvement, ensuring that all pupils have access to a high-quality education that meets their individual needs. The school’s dedication to fostering a sense of community and belonging among pupils, alongside its robust curriculum and safeguarding practices, positions it well for future success.
