Staff and pupils at Vanguard School are celebrating after the school, which supports autistic students in Lambeth and is part of Liberty Academy Trust, was rated ‘Good’ in all areas, including its sixth form. Inspectors found that “a caring and supportive culture has been established.”
The school was praised for its strong pastoral care, high expectations, and commitment to helping pupils succeed. Inspectors highlighted the warm and nurturing environment, where pupils feel safe, supported, and valued.
Inspectors recognised the school’s dedication to creating a positive culture, noting:
“Staff get to know pupils well and genuinely have their best interests at heart. Pupils describe the school as ‘fantastic’ and ‘safe’, reflecting a strong sense of belonging and pride in their community.”
The school’s willingness to listen to students and take their views on board was also reported:
“Students at school are part of an impressive trust-wide student executive team that plays an important role in the running of the school and trust. This promotes pupils’ confidence very well and demonstrates the value the school puts on listening to its students.”
The school was also praised for its ambitious curriculum, which ensures that pupils gain the knowledge and qualifications they need for future education or employment. The report highlighted:
“In most subjects, the curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that pupils learn the foundational knowledge that enables them to study for formal qualifications. Special attention is given to ensuring that pupils have the necessary vocabulary and prior knowledge to learn new concepts.”
Vanguard’s approach to personal development and wellbeing was celebrated, with inspectors stating that:
Regular ‘check-ins’ with pupils about their feelings help them manage their emotions,” and “when pupils are upset or angry, staff help them to calm down using consistent and positive language.”
School leadership was another area of praise, with inspectors acknowledging the improvements made since the last inspection. The report stated:
“Current leaders have implemented substantial and enduring enhancements across the school, clearly demonstrating their capacity to further its development.”
Principal Rachael Clements said:
“We are absolutely delighted with this report. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, the resilience of our pupils, and the support of our families. There has been a period of change over the past few years, but we are now in a more settled place, and the benefits of that are really showing. It was wonderful to read in the report that some parents have described Vanguard as ‘the answer to their prayers,’ and we could not be prouder of the school we’ve created and the brilliant ways in which our pupils are succeeding.”
