A Brighton special school has been rated outstanding by Ofsted in an official inspection report published this week.
Downs View College, in Woodingdean, and its sixth form, known as the Link, which is in the grounds of Varndean, were inspected last month.
This week Oftsed wrote to head teacher Adrian Carver and said: “The visit was the first short inspection carried out since the school was judged to be outstanding in June 2012.
“This school and college continue to be outstanding.
“Your unswerving commitment to forge continual improvement for the benefit of pupils and learners in your care is highly commendable.
“Your exemplary dedication and visionary approach has inspired staff and parents to be ambitious for each pupil and learner that attend the school and college.
“You, ably supported by all leaders, have created a strong culture of high expectations which has percolated throughout the school and college.
“You encourage innovative practice among your staff, which has facilitated continual forward momentum since the last inspection. As a result, your school and college go from strength to strength.
“The leadership team has maintained the outstanding quality of education in the school and college since the last inspection.
“Pupils and learners with complex and diverse needs make outstanding progress, academically and socially, from their various starting points.
“There are striking examples where pupils and learners have made immense strides in their ability to communicate, to work alongside others and in regulating their own emotions and behaviours.
“This happens because you ensure that staff know and understand the needs of pupils and learners extremely well, and consequently staff are able to target next steps for learning precisely.
“Pupils and learners are acquiring skills that will help them to manage the next steps in their education and life beyond college.
“You know the strengths of your school exceptionally well. However, you are humble in your accomplishments and therefore not complacent.
“You have driven improvement and brought about further advancement since the last inspection.
“You and your staff have worked diligently to meet the recommendations made by inspectors at that time. Consequently, the positive contribution made by lead teachers is impressive.
“This is because they enthusiastically research and develop innovative practice to support and track the progress that pupils and learners make.
“For example, leaders profiled the engagement of pupils and learners with the most complex needs by observing them over a number of weeks.
“From this, they were able to provide teachers with valuable feedback about how best to support and engage pupils and learners in learning.
“As a result, pupils and learners made even greater progress in a wide variety of skills.
“Admirably, you have generously shared your own expertise and that of your staff to affect the provision for pupils who have special educational needs or disability within Brighton.
“You are keen to continue to share what you have achieved at Downs View Special School and Link College in order to benefit the wider community.”
To read the full report, click here.
