Northern Counties School aims to engage, enable and empower pupils. Pupils’ educational experiences at this school have been transformed since the previous inspection. Leaders have considerably raised the ambition and expectations for what pupils with complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can achieve. There is a strong academic focus. Pupils are now accessing qualifications that prepare them well for the future. This school admits pupils from age three to 19 years. All pupils have an education, health and care plan (EHC plan). Pupils, including post-16 students, follow a pathway curriculum. Some pupils learn an informal curriculum. Other pupils follow a more formal curriculum that matches parts of the national curriculum. Pupils who are deaf or blind follow adapted versions of the curriculum based on their individual needs. Pupils behave exceptionally well. They are supported by caring staff. Staff know individual pupils well. Pupils receive personalised support to progress academically and to prepare them for next steps and adulthood. The school’s environment is bright and engaging. It is well resourced. There are a range of professionals in school to support pupils. These include speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.