Pupils are extremely positive about Hamilton Lodge. They think that it is a friendly place where they feel safe. Poor behaviour does not interfere with their learning because staff have consistently high expectations, in and outside of the classroom. The school is a nurturing environment. Pupils mostly get on with each other well, though do acknowledge that relationships can be strained on occasion. The school has a range of values that pupils and staff aspire to. Kindness sits at the heart of these. Expectations of what pupils can achieve are very high. Staff care about pupils and want them to succeed. In return, pupils care about staff. Because of this, trusting relationships are formed and pupils across all phases of the school thrive, both academically and in developing their life skills. Pupils are welcoming to visitors. They feel that they will have many happy memories when they leave the school. They revel in the challenges that events such as sports day bring. They are sad about fellow pupils who leave. Their compassion for each other shines through in a way that is difficult to put into words. This is clearly a special place to be for pupils and staff alike.