Outstanding success for Thornhill Lees school

Officials gave the highest possible rating to Ravenshall School in all four key areas after a visit in October.

The majority of the 171 pupils at the school in Thornhill Lees have moderate learning difficulties combined with other special educational needs.

Headteacher Jeanette Tate said: “We are absolutely delighted. It’s a great reflection on the work of the teachers, pupils, staff, parents, governors and the whole school.”

Inspectors said the achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management at the school were all outstanding.

The report read: “Teaching is outstanding because teachers have exceptionally high expectations of what pupils can achieve and are very effective at ensuring work set matches pupils’ needs.

“The outstanding leadership skills of the headteacher and the leadership team have moved the school forward. Their relentless focus has brought about continuous improvement in many aspects of the school’s work since the last inspection.” Mrs Tate said: “It’s difficult to get an outstanding judgement these days but we think it’s absolutely accurate.

“We are a very special, ‘special’ school.”

Inspectors said behaviour in and outside the classroom was excellent, despite the behavioural needs of many pupils.

Pupils they spoke to felt the school was a “very safe place to which they all enjoy coming”.

Analysis of the new post-16 provision also showed that this group was making excellent progress.