At the Robert Odgen School, we pride ourselves on our personal approach to each child who comes here.
All our children learn at their own pace and according to their own individual needs. It is a pleasure to watch them progress and we celebrate their achievements, however big or small, whenever we can.
We offer full-time day places throughout the year and term-time residential care to children and young people aged 7 to 19 from across the autism spectrum. Our 300 specialist staff are a dedicated close-knit team. They work together to create a stable and structured environment where our children can learn and be nurtured.
Our children have a range of abilities. It is important to us that they all come to see school as a comfortable, safe place where they can achieve and be happy.
We welcome contact with parents, carers, friends, local authorities, other schools and professionals. Everyone who visits our school remarks on the friendly atmosphere here.
The quality of education at The Robert Ogden School is outstanding. The school successfully meets its aims, providing an environment in which young people feel at ease and are enabled to make outstanding progress in their learning.
Ofsted
Our school's aims
Each child will:
- receive teaching of the highest quality which includes autism-specific techniques
- learn in an appropriately safe and stimulating environment
- be encouraged to aim for high standards in their own learning and achievement
- benefit from good communication between home and school
- learn good behaviour and attitudes so that they can make a positive contribution to school life
- study a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum
- learn in a caring and cared for environment
- be given support in their learning at all times
- be part of a healthy school.
Our ethos
We create a positive, caring environment in which children can develop and achieve their own goals. Some of our children come to us after a long period away from school. We hope with support and care they will come to see school as a comfortable, positive place, where they are welcome.
Our children learn in class groups, residential groups or on their own depending on what works best for them. We encourage all our children to join in with school life as much as it is possible for them to do so; attending assemblies and communal mealtimes and joining social clubs may be new to many of our children. We always make sure they are happy to try new things and all our activities take into account age, ability and individual needs.
Children in our homes plan their own activities for the week with the help of their key workers. These may include attending external clubs and groups such as swimming, Scouts and youth clubs.
Where possible, we encourage our young people to proceed to mainstream school and further education colleges and to work towards formal examinations.
Our aim is to teach our children the skills they need to live as independently as possible in the future. Older students will have their own bank account, learn to travel on public transport, look after the home, shop and budget. Each child is given a leaving care plan.
We understand that your child’s wellbeing is of paramount importance to you, and we have extremely robust safeguarding procedures and practices in place to support this. Our school is a nurturing and high quality environment, and staff are committed to ensuring that each child feels safe and cared for. We firmly believe it is the right of every child to be healthy, safe and happy, and to achieve and make a positive contribution.