A SCHOOL which caters for youngsters with special educational needs, has been told to make improvements following its first inspection.

The Eden School, which is run by the Education Partnership Trust, opened in 2014 and teaches youngsters aged eight to 16 who are not in mainstream education.

The Heys Lane school was told it ‘requires improvement’ after an inspection by education watchdog Ofsted.

Inspectors said despite pupils’ attainment improving, standards remain ‘well below those expected for their age’, while the quality of teaching varies and leaders have not planned a broad enough curriculum to meet all pupils’ needs.

The school was rated ‘good’ for effectiveness of leadership and management and for personal development.

Lead inspector Denah Jones said: “Some strong and effective teaching exists, but is not shared well enough across all teachers.

“Pupils are not being prepared well enough for the new GCSE in mathematics because they are not taught how to solve problems and they do not explain their answers well.”

She said teachers’ subject knowledge is not ‘uniformly secure’ and although leaders have an accurate understanding of the progress made by pupils in English and maths, they know very little about the progress pupils make in other subjects.

Ms Jones said the acting headteacher Angela Lazarevic has quickly identified weaknesses in the school and with others is working to improve it.

A spokesman for the school said: “Inspectors identified that leadership and management of the school at all levels is also good and the school is well placed to deliver the planned improvements, many of which have already been actioned, enabling Eden School to continue to deliver positive outcomes and opportunities for some of our most vulnerable children.

“Eden School has a robust strategy in place to deliver effective and rapid improvement including the development of a broader curriculum as the school grows in size.”