Leaders have ensured that the school provides a high-quality education. This is delivered through a well-designed and well-sequenced curriculum. The function of the curriculum is to encourage pupils to build on previous learning and enable them to access learning and social experiences while at school and after leaving school.

Sunningdale School Sunderland (Outstanding).
Leaders have developed an inspirational curriculum that ensures that learning is tailored to meet the needs of all pupils. Because of this, pupils display exceptionally high levels of engagement in learning. They make rapid progress from their starting points.

The school has meticulously planned out the curriculum for each of the five curriculum ‘pathways’ from early years to key stage 4. The curriculum meets the wide range of pupils’ complex needs exceptionally well. This includes their communication and learning needs, sensory needs, and emotional and health needs. This leads to all pupils following highly bespoke learning pathways that meet their needs exceptionally well.

 Great thought has been applied to detail the relevant and meaningful knowledge and skills that the school wants pupils to learn in each pathway. This ambitious curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils and students develop their independence and are prepared extremely well for their transition to meaningful education or supported residential or day-care provision.

The assistant headteachers support the headteacher well and work together purposefully to strengthen and build on the school’s vision. They have led successfully on introducing a stimulating curriculum that meets pupils’ needs through various learning pathways.