Ofsted praises student progress at Rowan school

The comments were contained in a report following an Ofsted inspection earlier this year, its first since opening in November 2024.

The school, which supports young people aged five to 16 with an autism diagnosis, moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex needs, was the first independent specialist school to be visited under Ofsted’s new inspection framework. 

Schools are evaluated on a five-point scale  (Exceptional, Strong Standard, Expected Standard, Needs Attention, and Urgent Improvement) across key areas including Achievement, Inclusion and Curriculum and Teaching. Inspectors rated Aurora Rowan School as ‘Strong Standard’ across all six of its new categories:
Achievement: Strong Standard
Attendance and Behaviour: Strong Standard
Curriculum and Teaching: Strong Standard
Inclusion: Strong Standard
Leadership and Governance: Strong Standard
Personal development and Wellbeing: Strong Standard

In their report, the inspectors said that although pupils arrived at the school with substantial gaps in their communication, learning and regulation skills, they were able to progress thanks to the gradual rebuilding of these skills through an “expertly designed” curriculum and therapeutic and pastoral support.

They also praised the teaching staff, saying they had the knowledge and skills required to support the pupils’ learning “very effectively”. 

The report noted that despite typically having low attendance rates at their previous schools, pupils’ attendance after joining Rowan was “excellent”.

Inspectors said one of the school’s strengths was its practice of mapping precisely what pupils needed to learn, involving leaders, staff, therapists, parents and carers, “to ensure a highly personalised approach for each pupil”. 

The school’s leadership was also praised by inspectors, who said “a positive team ethos oozes through the school and is underpinned by leaders’ genuine focus on ensuring that all staff are supported in whatever way they may need”.

Headteacher Lesley Walkden welcomed the report and thanked her staff, pupils, parents and the whole school community for their efforts during the inspection.

“They were all phenomenal,” she said.

“I was pleased the inspectors recognised the gaps that our children had in their development and education when they came to us and the fact we addressed these issues immediately.

“I was particularly pleased to hear that in the parents’ anonymous feedback there was an appreciation of our efforts to give our children a sense of being part of a community, and that community starts with the family.”

Lesley said the focus would now be on maintaining the current high standards over a sustained period of time and increasing the school’s impact in the community. 

She said: “We're currently working with a mainstream primary school in Reading to help them support their SEND pupils. Our pastoral lead and Thrive practitioner, who is trained to support children and young people’s social and emotional development, visit the school following a referral and do a six-week piece of work within the school. We’ll be looking at ways to measure the impact this is having.”