An independent special school has been told to improve after an inspection report found standards are not being met “consistently and securely”.

Inspectors from education watchdog Ofsted visited Mill School, which is part of the Kedleston Group, between May 14 to 16.

The Wellington Street school was rated "good" in the areas of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and personal development, but its leadership and management was handed a score of "requires improvement".

Overall, the school received an overall rating of "requires improvement". 

A report published on June 27 raised concerns around the school’s leadership and management, key stage 2 transition and a lack of understanding about how well pupils have learned the curriculum.

It said: “Some new and temporary staff are not as familiar with the proprietor’s systems as they need to be. This hinders the pace of further improvements.

“The proprietor should enhance its efforts to stabilise the leadership of the school and provide suitable support for new staff to fulfil their roles effectively so that the standards are consistently met.”

The school supports autistic children and young people aged seven to 17.

The report added: “Since 2022, instability in the staffing and leadership of the school had a detrimental effect on pupils’ behaviour and welfare.

“During this time, some parents and carers raised concerns over the education that their children received.

“The proprietor has addressed these concerns and made suitable changes. Some of these changes are helping the school to move forward apace.”

Although the school was rated "good" after a standard inspection in July 2021, two subsequent additional inspections in February and May 2023 found that the school did not meet all of the independent school standards that were checked.

However, the most recent report did offer praise of the school regarding overall pupil experience.

It found that when pupils join Mill School, often following difficult experiences in other educational settings, they begin to regain their enthusiasm for learning and “feel welcome”.

A spokesperson from Mill School said: “We are naturally disappointed with the overall judgement of our most recent report, but we are happy with the progress acknowledged by Ofsted, who rated the school 'good' in the areas of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and personal development.

“Ofsted received positive feedback from pupils, parents and professionals and we were particularly pleased that inspectors noted that when a child comes to Mill School Bury 'they begin to regain their enthusiasm for learning' and that it is a place where children feel they can be 'comfortable being themselves'.

“The report notes that 'pupils leave school well prepared for the next stage in their education, training or employment', which is always a key focus for Mill School.

“We continually strive to provide the very best possible education for our pupils and appreciate further work is required, which, as the report notes, continues apace.

“We look forward to welcoming Ofsted back to see our continued progress under the leadership of our new headteacher Debbie Morley in September.”