YourNews: Ofsted praise for East Midlands alternative training and education business

Staff at R.E.A.L. Education, an independent education and training company with bases across the East Midlands, have an extra reason to celebrate this Christmas after its independent school arm was praised by Ofsted.

The firm’s Alternative Provision School, in Mansfield, recently received its first visit by the education watchdog since it opened its doors in January 2016, and inspectors concluded ‘this is a good school’.

The Ofsted report, published today (12th December), stated:

• The headteacher demonstrates excellent leadership.
• The school provides an outstanding, flexible curriculum.
• The quality of teaching and learning across the full curriculum is consistently good.
• In the short time since the school opened, pupils have made good progress across a range of subjects, including English and Mathematics, from mostly low starting points.
• Post-16 students make good progress with nationally-recognised qualifications.
• Leaders and governors have a strong and accurate understanding of how well pupils are achieving.
• Leaders and governors are highly ambitious for the school.
• Pupils demonstrate strong improvements in their attendance

R.E.A.L. Education’s vision is to create outstanding alternative provision and services that enable young people who have been marginalised by their exceptional and complex special needs to develop skills and capabilities, leading them to becoming independent and employable adults who can interact and contribute positively within their communities.

Since its formation in 2008, R.E.A.L. Education has earned an excellent reputation for re-engaging children and young people whose additional needs and associated behaviours have been a barrier to engagement and learning in mainstream settings.

Its tutors provide the encouragement and climate for learning to raise aspiration and inspire students to work to their full potential and overcome the barriers to their learning that have previously hindered engagement, advancement and success.

Martin Davies, headteacher of the R.E.A.L. Alternative Provision School, said: “We are delighted with the report and feel it is an accurate and honest appraisal of where we are as a new school.

“It’s testimony to the hard work and team ethic that exists at the R.E.A.L. Alternative Provision School.

“The leadership team, governors, staff and students can be proud of the very positive report they have earned and fully deserve.”