Special school celebrates being rated ‘outstanding’

The Forest School, in Park Lane, which teaches children and young people with special educational needs, was awarded the prestigious grade in every Ofsted inspection category.

It comes after two days of lesson observations, meetings with staff, pupils and governors, as well as close scrutiny of pupils’ work and the views of parents.

Headteacher Peter Hewitt said: “We are delighted to announce that not only have we have been judged as an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ school, we are indeed outstanding in every inspection category.

“The report itself makes for wonderful reading and gives great praise and recognition for all that we do here in our school to provide for our amazing children and young people.

“This is a real accolade for the school. It has never been more difficult than under the present Ofsted inspection framework to achieve the outstanding grade and to be judged outstanding in all areas is an incredible feat.”

Mr Hewitt said the comments in the report that stood out were those made about the pupils and people working in and with the school.

They included:

• “Pupils say that they love school and wish they could stay there for longer. They feel valued and respected and, in turn, learn to value and respect each other and their differences.

• “Parents are understandably delighted by the progress their children make in their personal, social and communication skills and how they grow in confidence and self-esteem.”

• “Teachers are very skilled in the different communication and learning needs of their pupils”

• “The curriculum is outstanding, providing rich opportunities for pupils to develop the skills they will need in their future lives.”

• “Governors provide an outstanding level of support and challenge to the school.”

Mr Hewitt highlighted that there was a golden thread running throughout the report - “teamwork”.

He said: “Teamwork at all levels and between pupils, staff, families, governors and all others who become friends to our school.

“It is teamwork that has enabled our school to become truly outstanding.

“I would like to publicly thank everyone associated with us for all they have done to help make our school the place it is today.

“There will be great celebrations going on for some time to come because as the inspectors said: ‘The Forest School is a very happy and successful school where pupils love to be’.”