Belmont School is a specialised independent special school which is registered to provide for pupils aged five to 18 years who have moderate to complex learning and behavioural difficulties. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. At the time of the inspection, the school was providing for pupils aged seven to 16 years. The school is located on three sites in Rossendale, Lancashire. The school opened in 1996. It is owned by Acorn Care and Education Ltd and was last inspected in July 2015. There are 126 pupils on roll. Most pupils are of White British heritage. Pupils are placed at the school from local authorities from across the country. Inspection report: Belmont School, 30 January–1 February 2018 Page 10 of 13 The school brochure states, ‘At Belmont School, we enable our pupils to improve their academic performance, overcome their behavioural difficulties, develop their social skills and raise their aspirations.’ The school aims to ‘provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve and promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life’. Due to the complex nature of most pupils’ behavioural, educational, emotional and social difficulties, classroom support is often intensive. All pupils learn in small groups. Some classes include pupils from different age groups. The school operates from two main sites, one for pupils of primary school age, the other for pupils of secondary school age. In addition, a separate vocational centre is available for key stage 4 pupils. Since the previous inspection, the senior leadership team has been reorganised, to include two new headteachers, one responsible for the primary school, the other for the secondary school, and two deputy headteachers, one for each of the schools. In addition, there are new English, mathematics and science leaders in both schools. A number of teaching and support staff have left the school. The proprietor has acquired new buildings and premises to create a specialised vocational centre. During the inspection, refurbishment work was taking place in the primary school to extend premises and increase learning space. The school uses alternative providers. These are Bury, Burnley and Bolton colleges.