A SPECIAL school that ‘settles for nothing but the best’ has been graded as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Newfield School in Blackburn, which teaches children aged between two and 19-years-old, has been praised for the pupils’ ‘rapid progress’ and the ‘outstanding’ leadership of the headteacher and his ‘exemplary’ senior team.

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The Oldbank Lane school, which has 147 pupils on its roll, was previously concluded to be ‘good’ by the education watchdog when it was last reviewed in November 2012.

Students at Newfield have complex learning needs and some pupils have profound and multiple learning difficulties.

The majority of students are boys and don’t have English as their first language.

Lead inspector Drew Crawshaw said: “The collective desire of all adults associated with the school to settle for nothing but the best is the added impetus behind the excellent achievement of pupils who attend Newfield School.

“Pupils start at the school with very low levels of skill due to their complex needs.

“However, they achieve exceptionally well in their communication, literacy and numeracy skills and also in a range of other subjects.

“Pupils’ attitudes to learning are excellent. Their preparation for life beyond school and for their next steps in education is first-rate.

"Newfield is led well by a headteacher with a strong vision for excellence now and in the future. His vision is shared with, and delivered by, all adults who work at the school. The staff team is on board to provide nothing but the best for this group of pupils.”

The leadership, quality of teaching, personal development, behaviour and welfare, pupil outcomes, early years provision and the sixth form were all concluded to be ‘outstanding’.

The school was previously given the top grade by Ofsted in 2007.

Headteacher Geoff Fitzpatrick said: “We are all completely over the moon about the report and it’s the best I have ever read. I’m very proud to be the headteacher and this is a great achievement."

“I would put it down to team work and working effectively in and outside of school.”