Leaders and governors have been praised for a rapid improvements at a Huddersfield special school.
Ofsted has rated Lydgate School as Good overall, and Outstanding for the behaviour and safety of the 75 pupils, all of whom have complex needs.
The school is currently in cramped premises in Kirkroyds Lane, New Mill, but is set for a £4.9 million relocation to the current Almondbury Junior School building by September 2016. The New Mill site will be “landbanked.”
Inspectors singled out several people for special praise: “The headteacher (Nicky Rogers), deputy headteacher and governors have worked hard to ensure that the school has improved rapidly since the previous inspection.
“The headteacher leads with integrity and vision and provides clear direction for further improvement.
“Middle leaders share the vision of the senior leaders and governors. They work hard to ensure that teaching continues to improve and that pupils achieve well.
“The governing body has a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement.”
Achievement overall is good, with all pupils making progress in the three Rs. However, Ofsted also said: “Some year groups in the lower school do not make as much progress as they should.
“Expectations and the pace of learning are not always matched to pupils’ abilities and interests sufficiently well. The level of challenge in the classroom is not consistently good.”
Despite pupils having increasingly complex needs, inspectors added: “The school is an oasis of calm where pupils feel safe, are highly respected and treated with the utmost dignity”.
