Special School receives specialist status

The Brookfield School in Hereford is the only school in the county to be awarded specialist status in behaviour management.

The news that the school has been successful in its application for this specialist status comes just four months after an Ofsted inspection team judged the school to be outstanding, the highest accolade the inspection team could give.

The Brookfield School caters for 75 children aged five to sixteen who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. Each pupil has their own individually developed education and behaviour plan. The school has to work closely with its community partners to make sure the programme of behaviour management works well both in and out of the school environment.

The new specialist status award recognises the school's expertise in managing students with challenging behaviour and associated difficulties.

Speaking of the school's success, Mrs Oremi Evans, head teacher, said: "This status is the result of dedicated, hardworking, enthusiastic, experienced staff who provide an environment where students are valued, respected and challenged to improve their self-worth."

She continued, "I am inordinately proud of my school, its staff and all the active participants who have travelled with us on this successful journey since our establishment in 2001."

The school's specialist status will help it extend the curriculum, and improve opportunities for the children and students who will be able to experience success in even more areas. It will also mean the school's staff will be able to continue and expand the sharing of good practice locally, regionally and nationally.