Brookfield is a school for students with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Many have additional, often complex, learning needs that include autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The proportion who qualify for the pupil premium (additional government funding for specific groups such as those known to be entitled to free school meals, or who are in the care of the local authority) is well above average. All students have a statement of special educational needs apart from a small group of primaryaged pupils who are dual-registered with their local school, who attend Brookfield for short-term intervention programmes when they are at risk of exclusion from their own school. Most of the students are of White British background. The headteacher is a National Leader of Education. She is also head of the local authority’s behaviour support team, and jointly leads the Behaviour and Attendance Strategy. She represents education on the county’s safeguarding strategic board and is executive headteacher of the local authority’s three pupil referral units. The school is a National Support School and provides help and advice to schools locally and across the country. Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious allegations of a child protection nature had been investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response were considered alongside the other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.