Pupils feel safe and happy at this school. Pupils place trust in the staff, and they are comfortable to talk to them about any concerns that they may have. Relationships between staff and pupils are strong. Pupils appreciate that staff help them to identify and overcome any barriers that may exist due to their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Many pupils have been disengaged from education prior to joining this school. The confidence that pupils have in their teachers is clearly evident. Added to this, teachers help pupils to engage well in their learning during lessons. Pupils also conduct themselves well, and they behave appropriately around the school. Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities, which develop their personal skills, including their resilience and teamwork. Pupils at this school aspire to a diverse range of careers. They benefit from a wide choice of vocational learning opportunities. These options enable pupils to develop a range of interests that they may consider pursuing when they leave the school. The school is ambitious for pupils to attain the qualifications that they need for their next steps. However, in some subjects, the curriculum is not as ambitious as it should be. This hinders how well pupils learn. Additionally, although leaders have created strategies to support pupils who find learning to read more difficult, these initiatives are at the early stages of being put into place.