AN independent special school on the edge of Exmoor has again been praised by education inspectors who rated it ‘outstanding’
The Libra School, in Heasley Mill, near North Molton, caters for children with social, emotional, or mental health (SEMH) needs.
It was founded in 1999 and moved to its current premises in 2001, where it has 47 pupils aged five to 18 years who are charged fees of up to £93,000 a year.
Ofsted inspectors visited at the end of January and their report, which has just been published, reaffirmed its ‘outstanding’ grading in all categories.
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Lead inspector Esther Best said: “Pupils achieve exceptionally well in all that they do at The Libra School.
“Pupils have complex needs related to social, emotional, and mental health.
“Many arrive having had negative and unsuccessful experiences of education elsewhere.
“Staff quickly get to know pupils.
“They take time to build excellent relationships with pupils to help them to flourish.
“Staff use their high levels of expertise to understand and support pupils’ needs.
“As a result, pupils’ behaviour improves dramatically alongside developing an enjoyment in their learning.”
Ms Best said the behaviour of pupils was ‘exemplary’ and they showed ‘incredibly positive attitudes’ to learning and consistently produced work of a high quality.
Libra School principal Kirsty Crosby said: “This achievement builds on our previous outstanding rating from 2022 and reflects the relentless hard work, dedication, and shared vision of our incredible staff team who Ofsted said ‘have extremely high expectations of what pupils can achieve’ and who ‘are determined for pupils to shine’.
“Our children, who come to us from a variety of backgrounds and often with disrupted educational journeys, continue to inspire us with their resilience and growth.
“It has been truly heartening to see them embrace a sense of belonging and trust within our school community, allowing them to thrive academically and personally.
“During the inspection, our children rose to the occasion, engaging confidently with the inspectors and showcasing their progress
“We could not be prouder of their achievements.
“Our mission remains steadfast, to help children discover their path through personalised timetables, relational approaches, and additional therapeutic support when needed.
“We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to embracing the next exciting chapter in our journey as a school.”
Ms Crosby said the school had continued to adapt and innovate over the past three years to ensure pupils were prepared not only for their current challenges but also for their futures.
She said its farm school had grown significantly and earned particular praise from the Ofsted inspectors for equipping children with valuable skills applicable to the workplace.
Ms Crosby said: “Together with our forest school and main school site, we provide a well-rounded education that extends beyond traditional classroom learning.”
She thanked parents and carers for supporting the school and for their positive feedback and collaborative working which was invaluable as everybody worked together toward a shared goal of raising aspirations and unlocking potential for the children.