Cleaswell Hill is a day community special school in Guide Post, Northumberland for 208 children with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.

Two inspectors visited the school for children aged 4-19 in June 2022. Their inspection involved visiting pupils from across the school, subject deep dives, the consideration of staff and parent survey responses and meetings with senior leaders, governors and the school improvement partner.

In their glowing six-page report, Ofsted state that "pupils thrive at Cleaswell Hill."

The document highlights the high expectations, "overwhelmingly positive" feedback from parents and carers, exceptional behaviour, safety and a highly specialised and ambitious curriculum.

The experience of staff, work with multiagency professionals, preparation for next steps, support for pupil wellbeing, interventions, promotion of personal development and effective safeguarding arrangements as areas of strength for the school.

No areas for development are outlined within the report.

 

Mike Jackson, Headteacher, said:  "We have a great team at Cleaswell who work tirelessly day in day out to ensure our pupils receive the highest quality provision; this commitment is reflected in the Ofsted judgement."

Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children's Services, said: "Cleaswell have the highest aspirations for all their pupils and we are so proud of everything the staff, students and the whole school community have achieved. 

"As the report says: pupils thrive at Cleaswell Hill and key to that is because staff develop strong, caring relationships with pupils.
 

"There is also fantastic work going in school to prepare young people for their next steps and it is great to hear students in the sixth form describe the support that they have had as being ‘brilliant’.

"Well done everyone."