Ofsted praise Thornbury school for 'happy pupils'

A special school has been given good marks for its teaching and care of pupils as it prepares to start a new phase in its life.

New Siblands School is based in Thornbury but admits children aged from two to 19 from a wide area of South Gloucestershire, as well as Bristol.

The youngsters have severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple difficulties. A number also have extra needs linked to autism.

The school is currently based in Easton Hill Road but later this year the primary department will move to a new £16-million complex closer to the town centre that will be shared with Gillingstool Primary School.

It will have room for 210 mainstream pupils and 45 youngsters with special educational needs but New Siblands' secondary department, including its sixth form, will stay on its present site in new and refurbished buildings.

During a two-day visit, Ofsted inspectors said they found New Siblands to be a good school which cared well for all its pupils and made good provision to ensure they progressed well.

Reporting inspector Stephen McShane said: "The pupils are clearly happy at the school. They say they feel safe. They behave well and are polite and courteous to each other, to staff and to visitors.

"Teaching overall is good. Some of it is outstanding. In the best lessons, pupils' enjoyment is high and they respond enthusiastically to the challenges the teacher sets."

Mr McShane said there was sensitive support from knowledgeable adults but occasionally too much help was given, missing chances to let pupils develop their independent learning.

He said there were high expectations for the education and care of pupils, the school was well managed and there had been many recent improvements that ensured it was well prepared for the major changes ahead.

From making a good start at the early years foundation stage, pupils went on to achieve well in literacy, numeracy and communication, leaving with a range of accreditations from the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance.

There was strong emphasis on learning basic skills and children enjoyed other activities such as swimming, horse riding and working with artists.

The school was well led by head teacher Paul Casson and links were strong with mainstream schools and the community.

Mr Casson said: "We are really pleased with the report, which is overwhelmingly positive and shows the good relationships that the children have with staff.

"We were especially pleased that our efforts to build a team where morale is high and staff are proud to be members of the school had been recognised."