Raising standards, improving lives
Challenging the Gap Conference
Preparing for a successful future
Christine Gilbert
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector
July 2010
Outstanding PRUs
‘Pupils make outstanding progress because extremely effective leadership has assured an excellent ethos for learning, teaching of the highest quality and an extremely well-thought-out curriculum matched precisely to pupils’ needs’
Dacorum Education Support Centre
Outstanding PRUs
‘The Service provides an excellent quality of education for vulnerable pupils. Pupils in various centres and hospital, or those who receive home tuition, are given excellent support so that, wherever possible, they can quickly return to their school.’
Tuition, Medical and Behaviour Support Service, Shropshire
Grade 1 2 3 4
2008/09 17 52 24 7
2009/10 19 40 29 12
September 09 – March 10
Overall Effectiveness %
Successful PRUs
High expectations
See no limitations, only opportunities
Successful PRUs: the curriculum
A personalised curriculum which is tailored for each pupil
A focus on literacy and numeracy
Continuity with the curriculum in the pupil’s mainstream school
Successful PRUs: achievement
Value meaningful achievements
Provide purpose and engagement
Enable accreditation and qualifications
Successful PRUs: teaching
High expectations
Detailed planning, which uses assessment effectively and ensures a good match to learners’ needs and progress
Effective use of teaching assistants
Interesting and relevant activities
Effective liaison with mainstream schools
Ineffective strategies for tackling low attendance and poor behaviour
Lack of understanding about the link between poor learning opportunities and poor behaviour
Safeguarding concerns
Signs of ineffectiveness
Short stay provision
Being ready for the next step includes emotional preparation
Successful PRUs: tutorial and pastoral
Is personalised and ongoing
Helps pupils to manage their lives
Requires staff commitment
Successful PRUs: transition planning
A process, not a single activity
An individualised programme - why is the pupil at the PRU?
Successful PRUs: links with parents
Support from parents in helping learners to meet their own targets
Support for parents at home
Successful PRUs: links with other agencies
The need to plan these links and support from before the student enters the PRU
Links are focussed on the next steps before the student leaves
Use links during the students time in the PRU
Successful PRUs: leadership and management
An ambitious and shared vision based on a belief that there is no limit to achievement and success
A focus on learning
Staff supported to innovate based on careful tracking and meticulous evaluation
An obsession with progress and effectiveness
Understand their strategic role and have evaluated the performance of the PRU
Provide support and challenge
Share successes
Successful management committees
Ambitions and shared vision
High expectations, no limitations
A personalised learning programme
A focus on learning, success and improvement
High quality provision
A recognition of the value of qualifications
Transition is thoroughly planned
Rigorous monitoring and evaluating
Key characteristics of success