‘Ready, respectful and safe’ is at the heart of Barley Lane School. Leaders prioritise this so that pupils feel safe and are ready to learn. Pupils value the difference that the school has made to them. They describe how staff listen and give them the help they need to manage their emotions successfully. Pupils appreciate that, even when they have shown challenging behaviour, staff understand them and there is always a fresh start. Most staff model consistent expectations of pupils’ behaviour. Where this is wellestablished, pupils trust staff and feel secure. This enables pupils to meet the high expectations staff have of them and achieve some ambitious outcomes. However, the academic curriculum is still in a developmental stage. Consequently, pupils do not learn as well as they could. Pupils report incidents where the behaviour of others can disturb their learning. Where this happens, staff are not consistent in their expectations and learning is hindered. Opportunities to strengthen pupils’ character are wide ranging. Pupils develop their confidence and self-awareness well. This enables them to articulate their views and reflect on their educational journey.