Pupils succeed at this school. They study a suitable curriculum and receive effective support. Staff work well to help pupils overcome the many challenges they may face. Pupils appreciate the support they receive. They particularly enjoy the vocational qualifications they can choose to work towards, including in construction, sport, art and design and childcare. Pupils enjoy being at school, but many struggle to attend regularly. Attendance rates have significantly worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders and staff are doing all they can to encourage pupils to attend school more regularly. Pupils feel cared for, and safeguarding is effective. Over time, they learn to trust that staff will help them. Staff understand pupils’ needs. They skilfully balance patience and flexibility with high expectations of pupils’ behaviour. As a result, pupils’ behaviour improves over time. Bullying is not a problem and is dealt with well when it arises. Leaders are particularly successful in developing pupils’ social, communication and numeracy skills. The current ‘mind-your-language’ approach is working well. However, pupils’ reading is not promoted as effectively. Staff keep in close contact with parents, carers and placing authorities. Almost all those who contributed to Ofsted’s online survey, Ofsted Parent View, said they would recommend the school.