An innovative partnership between the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) Pears Centre for Specialist Learning and Three Spires School in Coventry will see the school converted into a special educational needs (SEN) academy.
The partnership is the first of its kind in the UK, with a disability charity sponsoring a SEN academy.
RNIB Pears Centre took over the management of Three Spires School at the beginning of September. This same senior management team has been responsible for RNIB’s Pears Centre recent Ofsted “Outstanding” grades and will support the delivery of improvements at RNIB Three Spires Academy.
RNIB Three Spires Academy is a school for children aged 3-11 with mainly moderate learning difficulties. Many of its pupils have autistic spectrum disorders while others have sensory impairment, communication and physical difficulties.
Sally Harvey, group director of independent living at RNIB, said: “We are confident that by using our extensive specialist expertise in supporting children with complex needs, we can support Three Spires to continue to build on progress to date ensuring they achieve at least a grade “Good” in their next Ofsted inspection.
“By doing this, we will also be improving the outcomes for all of Three Spires’ pupils including those with sight problems and promote RNIB’s mission of preventing avoidable sight loss and promoting eye health to a much wider network of schools both in the Coventry area and beyond.”
Picture: Andy Moran, executive headteacher, RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning and Amanda Clugston, headteacher, RNIB Three Spires Academy
