Langham Oaks school rated 'good' in new Ofsted report

Langham Oaks, in School Road, Langham, has received a positive Ofsted report following an inspection that took place at the start of October across two days.

In a report published on Monday, the school has now achieved a good rating for its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management categories.

This follows on from a previous requires improvement grades in November 2021 and 2018. 

At the time the ex-head teacher of the school quit after she said the Ofsted report left her feeling “hurt”.

Area - the entrance to Langham Oaks (Image: Google Maps)

But in the new Ofsted report, Langham Oaks staff have been praised for helping pupils that join the school after “facing significant disruption to their education and lives”.

It said: “Staff take time to understand pupils’ often complex backgrounds and special educational needs or disabilities.

“They help pupils settle well into a stable school life. Staff celebrate important small successes, so pupils build pride and confidence in their own abilities.”

A clear expectation has been set out by staff for pupils on behaviour and pupils have learned “to know what is acceptable in their community” and “learn from their mistakes”.

Pupils also have a “high regard” for the “staff that care for them”.

The Ofsted report notes how the school and trust have improved its curriculum, and it is “adapted well” around accurately identified needs of the pupils.

There is also a personal, social, health and economic and ‘outdoor’ curriculum supports pupils well in building life skills such as cooking healthy meals, and staying fit through sporting activities.

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As pupils progress through the school, they achieve success and access important qualifications that help them access colleges and other destinations.

The teenagers are also provided access to a range of “high-quality” support and therapy, as staff “give pupils the tools to deal with their emotions and feelings”.

According to the report, the school’s actions have a marked effect on improving pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning.

It said: “Prior to starting in the school, some pupils had significantly low attendance.

“The school works determinedly with a range of agencies to get pupils to attend school regularly.

“As a result, many pupils now attend school more often than they did.”

Langham Oaks is a special school for boys aged ten to 16 with special educational needs and disability (SEND).

It also has residential space for a “small number of pupils” and Langham Oaks is part of the SEAX Trust, which is run by chief executive officer, Ruth Sturdy.

Ms Sturdy said: “We are delighted with the Ofsted report for Langham Oaks which has been published and which reflects the determination and hard work of all the staff at the school.

"To receive a “good” judgement for each of the four areas is a great achievement.

"Staff have worked with dedication and diligence to ensure that the school has gone from strength to strength since the last inspection for the benefit of our  pupils, and the outcome reflects this.

"We know there is more work to be done in a small number of areas and every member of staff in partnership with our pupils and families is working to improve them.

"Our pupils are at the centre of everything we do, both as a school and as The SEAX Trust and we are particularly pleased that that the report reflects this.”