Fernways school is a safe and happy place. Pupils trust adults to look after them and help them learn. They treat each other and their teachers with kindness and courtesy. They are proud of each other’s achievements. Over time, they learn to make good choices about their own behaviour. Bullying is extremely rare because pupils are respectful of each other. Leaders have quickly established a warm and purposeful atmosphere in the school. Some parents reflect how coming to Fernways has been ‘life-changing’ for their children. Pupils who have been absent from education for a sustained period now come to school regularly. This helps to raise their self-esteem, as well as increase their knowledge. Leaders understand pupils’ needs very well. They want them to be confident and successful learners, equipped to face the world. Everything they do is focused on this goal. Staff carry out their work with a common sense of purpose. Their caring persistence helps pupils to engage with learning and become more resilient. As a result, pupils gain useful knowledge about the world around them and the subjects that they study.