Milestone Achievement: Felix House School Celebrates First Ofsted Report!
We are absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with our community! Following our very first standard inspection on February 24, 2026, Ofsted has officially recognised Felix House School as meeting the "Expected Standard" across every single evaluation area. For a school that only opened its doors in November 2024, achieving such a consistent and positive report in just over a year is a testament to the hard work of our staff and the resilience of our wonderful pupils.
Ofsted Outcome: Safeguarding standards are met, and an open culture of responsibility has been established where pupils are made safer and feel safe.
I am immensely proud of our achievements in such a short space of time - the children and staff have created a wonderful community here at Felix House School and we cannot wait to continue our success!
Victoria Smithson
Headteacher, Felix House School
Our Pupils: Progress, Pride, and Personal Growth
At the heart of this report is the remarkable journey of our pupils. Many of our children join us having faced significant gaps in their education or holding negative views of school. Today, Ofsted highlights that they "enjoy their time here and achieve well."
Exceptional Progress: From individual starting points, pupils make secure progress through a personalised curriculum tailored to their Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans.
Closing the Gaps: We are successfully addressing gaps in basic skills like reading, allowing pupils to access future learning with increased success and confidence.
Attendance & Outlook: We’ve seen a "marked" improvement in attendance, which the inspectors noted is a direct reflection of how much our pupils enjoy coming to school.
Personal Development: Beyond academics, pupils are developing life skills—from swimming and music to learning how to keep safe online and in the community.
Our Staff: The Engine of Our Success
The inspectors were clear: the positive relationships between staff and pupils are "significant factors" in our pupils' changed outlooks. Our team doesn't just teach; they provide a "friendly and welcoming community" where every child feels secure to be themselves.
Expertise & Care: Staff are recognised for their secure subject knowledge and their skill in adapting teaching strategies to meet complex special educational needs.
Skilful Support: Whether it’s managing behavior with patience or providing therapeutic support for mental health, our staff have our pupils' "best interests at heart."
Commitment to Growth: Our leadership ensures that all staff, including those early in their careers, receive high-quality training and support to maintain our high standards.
A Comprehensive Success The report confirms that Felix House School meets the Expected Standard across all evaluated categories:
MET - ACHIEVEMENT
MET - ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOUR
MET - CURRICULUM AND TEACHING
MET - INCLUSION
MET - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING
MET - LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Inspectors particularly praised our "open and positive culture of safeguarding," ensuring that our pupils are not only safe but truly feel safe every day.
Looking Ahead
While we are celebrating this result—which means we are fulfilling all statutory requirements and professional standards—we are already looking at our "Next Steps." We are committed to refining our curriculum even further, strengthening our careers program, and deepening our pupils' understanding of global values to ensure we move from strength to strength.
To our staff, pupils, and parents: thank you for making Felix House such a special place to learn and grow. This is just the beginning!