Loxley Hall School, located in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, has undergone an ungraded inspection on 26 and 27 September 2023. The school maintains its overall judgement of good, although evidence suggests that a graded inspection might yield a lower rating. The headteacher, David Bownds, leads the school, which is part of the Manor Hall Academy Trust, overseen by CEO Richard Redgate and a board of trustees chaired by John Alexander.
The school is characterized by a caring and compassionate environment where pupils feel safe and valued. Many students have faced challenges in their previous educational settings, and Loxley Hall School focuses on understanding their individual needs to foster strong relationships with pupils, parents, and carers. This approach has contributed to improved engagement in education, with most pupils attending regularly. However, there are concerns regarding the accuracy of attendance registers.
Loxley Hall School has high expectations for its pupils and promotes a culture of mutual respect. Despite this, there are instances of poor behavior in some lessons, leading to disruptions and lost learning time. The curriculum is generally broad and aligns with the national curriculum, offering a range of qualifications. However, for a small number of pupils in key stage 4, the curriculum lacks breadth, which may hinder their future success.
While the school has identified weaknesses in its curriculum planning, progress in addressing these issues has been slow. The curriculum does not consistently outline the key knowledge pupils need to learn, which can impede their learning and retention of information. Additionally, some teachers lack the necessary subject knowledge to deliver the curriculum effectively, resulting in activities that do not support intended learning outcomes.
All pupils at Loxley Hall have an education, health, and care plan related to their social, emotional, and mental health needs. The school promptly identifies any additional special educational needs and disabilities upon enrollment and uses various assessments to understand pupils' starting points. However, some teachers do not adapt their teaching to accommodate pupils' needs, leading to a lack of ambition in the content delivered.
Support for early reading is still developing, and many pupils struggle with reading fluency and confidence. The school has implemented an emotional support unit to help pupils manage their emotions, which has shown positive results. However, some staff do not consistently address poor behavior, which disrupts learning.
The school actively promotes pupils' personal development, ensuring they understand fundamental British values through various experiences. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, contributing to a safe learning environment.
To improve, the school must address the distractions caused by pupil behavior in lessons and ensure consistent application of behavior management strategies. The curriculum needs to be better defined across subjects to facilitate effective learning progression. Additionally, the school should enhance its reading support to ensure all pupils can read at an appropriate level, enabling them to access the wider curriculum. Finally, the oversight of the school's work requires greater rigor to identify and rectify issues related to attendance and curriculum breadth.
