Residential facilities at Priory School in Bury St Edmunds rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted

Residential facilities at a Bury St Edmunds special school have retained their ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted.

About 50 students a week make use of the 23 beds, mainly for one or two nights, at Priory School, in Mount Road, to avoid long travel times.

An annual Ofsted inspection of the boarding facilities, held last month, found that the ‘outstanding residential provision is central to the school’s efforts to improve outcomes for children’.

In a report, inspectors said children make ‘excellent progress socially, emotionally and academically because the residential provision is stimulating’ and children learn ‘valuable independence skills’.

Headteacher Lawrence Chapman said: “We’re delighted that Ofsted have recognised the hard work of staff and students and the contribution the school makes to the area.”

Georgina Lewis, head of boarding and safeguarding for the school’s trust SENDAT, said that as most students live far away, they have ‘limited opportunities for social interaction in the evenings’ but boarding encourages them to ‘build confidence, independence and friendships’.