This is a small school where pupils feel safe and valued. Pupils are taught in small groups by specialist staff. Pupils behave well and do not disrupt the learning of others. Pupils say that bullying rarely happens and if it did staff would sort it out quickly. Pupils who come to this school have often missed a lot of education. Staff at Cambian Hartlepool build positive and supportive relationships with pupils. Most pupils settle quickly and attend well. Leaders are ambitious for pupils. All pupils follow national curriculum subjects and a wide range of vocational courses. Pupils gain qualifications that include entry-level certificates, GCSEs and BTEC National Diplomas. Pupils are proud of their school and what they achieve in their lessons. The headteacher gathers information on pupils before they join the school. Teachers also check what pupils know and can do in their subjects. Each pupil has an individual learning plan. Staff implement these plans well. The headteacher knows that staff need more information on pupils’ speech and language needs. The proprietor has recently appointed a speech and language therapist to support the school in this area. Leaders encourage reading and staff help pupils become more confident readers. This support works well for pupils who are independent readers but not so well for pupils who have missed a lot of phonics teaching in their previous schools. Leaders are introducing a new phonics teaching programme to address this issue.