Two specialist schools run by a North-East charity are celebrating after Ofsted rated them both good with outstanding behaviour and attitudes.
Pupils and staff at Aycliffe School in County Durham and Thornhill Park School in Sunderland – run by the Noreth East Autism Society – received glowing praise from Ofsted inspectors who visited in June.
Both schools teach pupils aged four to 19 who are all autistic and/or neurodivergent. Some children were out of education for years before joining the schools.
The Ofsted report for Aycliffe School, which has 53 pupils, said: “There is a calm, caring atmosphere in this nurturing school.
“Pupils are closely supervised and supported well by highly skilled staff. Behaviour is excellent. There are very high expectations.”
Aycliffe Principal Kirsty Carr, pictured below, said she was very proud of staff and pupils. “It was a really strong Ofsted report that reflects the quality of what we do,” she said.
“We have a very strong staff team and everyone works hard with the pupils – staff should be really proud.”
Specialist schools are inspected on the same framework as mainstream schools, and their curriculum has to be just as broad and balanced.
At the same time, the pupils have a wide range of academic, developmental and emotional needs, and Ofsted said the two NEAS schools skilfully adapted the curriculum and the specialised support to meet them.
Kirsty said: “We have seen a 100% increase in the rate of pupils achieving qualifications and we continue to be ambitious. Pupils are really proud of their achievements.”
At Thornhill Park School in Sunderland, Ofsted inspectors described the 47 pupils as “kind, respectful and considerate” and praised the “exemplary behaviour across the school”.
The report added: “Leaders are determined that all pupils will be given every opportunity to succeed in life.”
Nadine Horton, Principal at Thornhill Park, said she was thrilled for staff and pupils. “The praise for the pupils was one of the things I’m most proud of. They are wonderful and the inspectors said they represented the school really positively,” she said.
The schools have held picnics, summer show, a prom and certificate giving assemblies to celebrate the report with parents and pupils. Kirsty said: “Our pupils are amazing and are a real credit to their parents, who are very supportive of the school. It’s a very strong community.”
Both schools are recruiting for Level 2 and Level 4 Teaching Assistants, with vacancies also available at sister schools Mackenzie Thorpe Centre in Middlesbrough and Kiora Hall in Stockton. Experience working with autistic pupils is not essential, as full training is provided. For more information and to apply, go to https://www.ne-as.org.uk/careers.
