Oxfordshire residential special school praised by Ofsted

The Mulberry Bush School, in Standlake, near Witney, is a children's home and non-maintained residential special school for vulnerable children affected by adverse life experiences.

The school recently underwent an Ofsted inspection which was carried out using the new rating system.

Instead of a one-word grade, the new report reviews quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.

The report highlighted the dedication of staff in transforming the lives of those affected by childhood trauma.

It said: "Due to their complex needs, pupils sometimes find it hard to manage their emotions.

"When this happens, well-trained staff skilfully support them. Pupils receive an excellent package of support during their time here.

"This prepares them extremely well to be able to learn alongside others and live successfully in a family home."

Director of the school, Lee Wright, said: "Our recent Ofsted inspection and the subsequent report are confirmation of the fantastic work that goes on at our school.

Director of The Mulberry Bush School, Lee Wright (Image: The Mulberry Bush) "It is really pleasing to read a report that clearly reflects the work of the remarkable and dedicated adults at the school.

"All of our staff work incredibly hard to enable all our children to make huge strides with their emotional, social, and academic development.

"The Mulberry Bush School makes a huge difference to the lives of all the children who are part of our community, and it is great to see when this is publicly recognised by an organisation such as Ofsted."

The school, which has been helping children through specialist therapeutic services since 1948, was also praised for its sense of community and belonging.

The report said: "This school is truly a community, where parents’, carers’, staff, and pupils’ views are listened to and acted upon."

The inspectors also noted social times are "joyful", and "staff provide pupils with a range of activities that match their interests".

It added: "Pupils across the school interact with each other with kindness and respect."

The hard work and dedication of the staff were also acknowledged in the report, which noted the positive attitudes of pupils towards their learning.

"Staff are immensely proud to work here," it added.

"A sense of calm and purpose pervades the school.

"Pupils behave extremely well. This is because staff use their specialist knowledge to set up the right learning environment for them. Lessons are rarely disrupted.

"Pupils value their time at school and have extremely positive attitudes towards their learning."

The full Ofsted report can be found online.