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Priory School gets outstanding report – for second time
Priory School, in Bury St Edmunds, has received an outstanding Ofsted report for the second time.
Inspectors carried out an inspection of standards of residential care at the school in February and marked it outstanding in five out of six sections.
The school provides boarding for 42 children, with most children spending two nights a week at the Mount Road site.
The inspection focused on health needs, individual support and children's safety, as well as looking at how the school consults with pupils.
The overall quality was rated outstanding with pupils being well cared for and their educational achievement strongly promoted.
Priory takes children with learning difficulties, including those with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
The school is said to provide outstanding provision in helping the children to be healthy, protecting them from harm or neglect and helping them to stay safe, and make a positive contribution.
Inspectors said Priory provided a happy and stimulating environment with staff encouraging children to reach for their fullest potential. Children enjoy a wide variety of sports and social activities, including bowling, sailing, West Suffolk Wheelers Kidzone and Tiger athletics club. They are also involved in the residential council meetings and take part in the Eastern Region Youth Parliament.
Organisation is outstanding with strong leadership from headteacher Roger Mackenzie and boarding provision ably managed by Georgina Lewis, head of care. Priory is said to have developed a 'friendly calm and purposeful atmosphere where pupils can feel relaxed and able to concentrate on their work and enjoy their recreation'. Economic wellbeing was said to be good.
Mr Mackenzie said: "The children we get are those with the most complex special needs in the county and here they have a chance to be with friends and develop skills. If these children are happy and thriving then they will be successfull and if children have stability then they can learn."
Mrs Lewis said: "We are delighted to receive this a second time as they had changed the benchmark, so it was tougher to reach outstanding."
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Friday 25 May 2012
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