Acorn Park transforms the lives of pupils. Many pupils join the school with negative views of education. Passionate and kind staff help pupils to quickly turn these views around. Pupils love to learn. This raises their aspirations. Pupils want to be the best they can be. They are motivated to work hard in lessons and reach the high expectations staff have of them. Pupils benefit from the clear behaviour routines established by staff. These ensure that pupils know what to expect. This helps children in the early years to quickly settle into the life of the school. A comprehensive enrichment programme ignites new interests for pupils. Whether tending to the herbs in the polytunnel, or visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare, pupils engage exceptionally well in what the school provides for them. Developing pupils’ confidence and independence flow through all aspects of the school’s work. During lunchtimes, pupils act responsibly when queueing and ordering their lunch in the busy dining hall. In English lessons, they gleefully step out of their comfort zone to take on the role of different characters when reading aloud. The school’s razor-sharp focus on developing life skills sets pupils up incredibly well for their lives beyond the school.