The support students receive in their personal development at a specialist school in Berkeley has been described as ‘exceptional’ by education inspection body Ofsted.
Aurora Severnside School, located on Berkeley Green Science and Technology Park, has 45 pupils aged 11 to 16 with complex diagnoses, primarily relating to Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Its catchment area includes Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Awarding the school an overall grading of ‘Good’, inspectors described the school’s personal development offer as “exceptional”, saying each pupil had a bespoke programme based on their individual interests and talents.
In their report, the inspectors described the school’s Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum as a “golden thread” that runs throughout the day-to-day life of the school, addressing topics such as diversity, tolerance and respect and online safety.
Inspectors recognised that a number of the pupils had experienced challenges in education prior to arriving at Severnside and they praised the efforts of the teaching and therapeutic staff to build trust and self-confidence.
The report said: “No stone is left unturned. A holistic approach, including the impressive work by the outreach team, means that pupils make demonstrable improvement in their attendance at school.
It went on to further recognise that “as a result, pupils re-engage with education and succeed”.
The Ofsted report graded:
- The quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Outstanding
- Leadership and management: Good
- Overall effectiveness: Good
Headteacher Rachel Lynch welcomed the inspection report and said it was a testament to the dedication, care and ambition that defined the school community.
She added “ The team have worked incredibly hard over the past few years to create a bespoke curriculum and foster a culture of safety, mutual respect where diversity and inclusion drive everything that we do. We are proud of this latest Ofsted report and excited to step into the future and continue to develop our school and provide the best possible outcomes for our wonderful students.”
The inspectors described the curriculum as “ambitious” and “well structured” and said staff at Severnside had “secure subject knowledge”. They also praised the school’s efforts in sourcing future career experience and college placements by building strong relationships with local employers.
Rachel said: “While we celebrate this achievement as a reflection of the hard work of our pupils, the dedication of our staff, and the support from parents, we remain committed to continuous improvement.”
