INSPECTORS say pupils at a Thornbury special school “thrive in all areas of learning”.
A team from regulator Ofsted visited New Siblands School in Easton Hill Road in February.
Their report found that the school, which has 126 pupils aged from two to 19, is ‘outstanding’ in all areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, early years and sixth form provision.
It is the first time Ofsted has visited the school since it was taken over by Enable Trust in 2018 – it had also been judged to be ‘outstanding’ on its previous inspection in 2017.
The inspectors said: “Pupils thrive in all areas of learning at New Siblands School. Through the exceptionally strong and trusting relationships with staff, pupils relish learning across a breadth of subjects.
“Staff are highly knowledgeable about the learning and therapeutic needs of pupils. This results in each pupil, including children in early years and students in the sixth form, having an expertly-designed curriculum that supports their learning.
“One parent described the school as, ‘like treasure at the end of a rainbow. Absolute gold.’”
‘Ambitious vision’
Ofsted praised the school’s “ambitious vision for the educational, social and emotional development of all pupils”.
They said: “Through the carefully crafted, personalised curriculum, pupils’ lives are transformed.
“The curriculum seamlessly blends therapy and class-based education. This supports pupils to realise their potential.”
They highlighted the school’s focuses on PE, play-based learning and “impressively well-structured” sixth form curriculum.
The school has two sites, for primary and a secondary pupils, and takes children from a very wide area, including South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.
Pupils are an ‘absolute credit’ to school – head
Head teacher Karl Hemmings said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this Ofsted result.
“Our staff work really hard to provide an amazing level of education and care for all of our pupils.
“We are really pleased Ofsted recognised this during their visit.
“Inspectors spent two days in our school and we were so proud of everything they saw.
“Our pupils were an absolute credit to our school during the inspection, as they are on each and every day.
“I would really like to thank our wonderful staff, pupils, families, governors, trust team and other members of our school community for everything they have done contributing to this fantastic result. It means so much to us all.”
Mr Hemmings said the school plans to build on its success by continuing to collaborate with the local authority and other schools to improve special educational needs provision for as many pupils as possible, both within and outside of the school.