Coventry’s three Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) have received positive feedback in their very first OFSTED inspections.

Inspections were carried out in March this year on the two Pupil Referral Units belonging to the Hospital and Home Tuition Service, and the Pupil Referral Unit at The Grange (which is part of the Behaviour Support Service).

Councillor George Duggins, Chair of Education and Cultural Affairs PCC says;

"It is very good news that our pupils referral units have been praised in their OFSTED inspections, showing the quality of the special care we offer in each area, and the excellence of the staff. Nationally, it is quite common for Pupil Referral Units to cause concern in their OFSTED inspections, so the positive feedback received by our units can be seen as a great achievement."

The three units all carry out very different work, and were praised for different reasons.

The Pregnant Schoolgirl and Schoolgirl mothers Unit at Whitmore Park Annexe (part of the Hospital and Home Tuition Service) received praise for its excellent teaching and delivery of the curriculum. The inspection also noted that the unit encouraged the pupils’ personal development, and also tried to ensure that pupils are in step with the work of mainstream schools, so that re-entry into school is a possibility.

The unit successfully promotes all aspects of pupils’ spiritual, moral social and cultural development whilst recognising the needs of the young people taking on the responsibility of motherhood.

Medical Recovery Unit, Sherbourne Fields Annexe (also part of the Hospital and Home Tuition Services) is praised for its clear focus on enabling pupils to return to their home school or enter further education. The unit’s staff respect and value the pupils and there is a commitment to providing appropriate support for them. The quality of teaching is very good, and contributes significantly to the learning and progress that pupils make. Provision for the support of pupils’ personal development, the contribution of their academic development and effective guidance for integration for their next step in life are strong aspects of the unit’s provision. Despite the unit’s small size it offers quality and range of curriculum. The curriculum is in fact broader than that commonly found in pupil referral units. The unit maintains strong links with parents and mainstream schools and a very effective network of links with other professionals.

Anne Walker who is the headteacher of the Hospital and Home Tuition Service was praised in both reports for her "committed, purposeful leadership" for her work at the units.

Areas for improvement in both units include improvements to the accommodation.

The Grange Education Unit

Usually pupils who attend the Grange do so on a part-time basis whilst continuing to attend their neighbourhood school. The staff at The Grange also work with the Behaviour Support Service and work with the pupils on their social development and associated school behaviour problems.

In its OFSTED report it was found that pupils improved when they attended the Grange, that there was a caring ethos, and the Teacher in Charge (Carol Barraclough) provided sound leadership. It was also found that the team at The Grange demonstrated Coventry education authority’s high level of commitment to inclusion – which was reflected across the authority’s other PRUs.

All pupils were courteous, and showed respect for teachers, which is very much due to the teachers’ attitudes toward the young people in the Unit. Parents were keen to express how much they valued the work the Unit does with their children and the level of personal support they received from staff.