Oustanding
Portsmouth special school achieves Outstanding for fourth time
Mary Rose Academy, a special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities and medical conditions, has been awarded Outstanding status by Ofsted for a fourth, consecutive time.
The school in Gisors Road, Southsea, caters for pupils aged 2-19, and is the founding school of Solent Academies Trust, which operates three further special schools in Portsmouth.
Ofsted judged Mary Rose Academy Outstanding across all areas of its rigorous inspection framework.
Praising the school’s “exceptionally high quality” of education and “ambitious and well-designed curriculum”, it called its leaders “aspirational”.
Inspectors also found that the school “excels in meeting pupils’ differing needs,” with “The highest expectations for pupils” and staff who are “committed to developing pupils’ independence” and “prepare pupils exceptionally well for their future lives.”
Sharon Burt, CEO of Solent Academies Trust, said: “'The entire Mary Rose community is overwhelmingly proud of the feedback provided following our most recent Ofsted inspection, which marks our fourth, consecutive Outstanding judgement.
“This result reflects a significant, whole team effort and strong partnership working. Each member of staff, family and young person has played a central role in ensuring that Mary Rose continues to provide a nationally leading education which emphasises real-world, future-focused learning and career opportunities, irrespective of the often profound, complexity of individual pupil needs.”
She added: “At Solent Academies Trust, it is our responsibility, privilege and pleasure to support each and every young person in achieving their dreams.
“Our goal is to ensure that they can flourish and find fulfilment in whichever area that holds most value to them now and in their future, within and beyond Mary Rose and we are proud that our inspection celebrated and encouraged this innovative and forward-reaching aspect of our curriculum.”
Since its previous inspection in November 2016, Mary Rose Academy has opened two additional sites in Portsmouth, The Lantern, for pupils with complex autism, and Craneswater, for post-16 students.
Solent Academies Trust also leads Littlegreen Academy based in West Sussex, Cliffdale Primary Academy and Redwood Park Academy, along with The Portsmouth and Solent Training Alliance in Portsmouth.