Special school rated outstanding by Ofsted

A residential special school in Surrey has been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted, with inspectors praising the "safe, vibrant and inclusive environment" for students.

St Piers School in Dormansland, near Lingfield, supports children and young people aged 4 to 19 with neurological conditions such as epilepsy, autism and complex needs.

Its residential provision, which caters for students aged 12 to 19, has been commended by Ofsted following an inspection in March.

Carolyn Meakings, head of residential services, said the rating was "testament to the passion, professionalism, and commitment of our team".

The report noted a "culture of celebrating uniqueness, promoting high expectations and focusing on future planning".

St Pier School has a "waking day cirriculum", which aims to ensure that learning extends beyond the school day, which was highlighted as a particular strength.

Inspectors also praised the role played by therapists who work directly with students to embed "communication, emotional self-regulation and sensory strategies into students' daily routines".

The school was rated "outstanding" in terms of students' overall experience and progress, and with respect to how well students were helped and protected.

The effectiveness of leaders and managers was rated as "good", with inspectors acknowledging the progress made since the previous inspection in 2024.

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