On Wednesday 9th May
(Day 107) I walked in Middlesbrough at Priory Woods School http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Home&pid=1
and at Ormesby School http://www.ormesby.middlesbrough.sch.uk/
Priory Woods School and Arts
College is an all age community special school situated in east Middlesbrough.
The school provides a quality, inclusive education for pupils with severe
learning difficulties and those with profound and multiple needs. Priory Woods
School is now co-located in their new school with Ormesby
School and have developed a close working relationship which is enhancing
the teaching and learning in both schools.
Ormesby School’s Motto is: “Where
Everyone Matters and Everyone Succeeds”. Their mission is “Meeting student
needs with purpose and aspiration. Engineering our technical curriculum to meet
the needs of industry and commerce”. Ormesby School is an 11-16 years of age
Co-educational Comprehensive School with 843 pupils on their roll.
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| Super welcome from Ormesby School & Priory Woods School in Midlesborough today on Day 107 |
Middlesbrough Council's planning
committee recommended approval for new £14million buildings for Ormesby
Secondary School and Priory Woods School on their existing site in 2008 and the
schools were re-opened over two years ago. The existing schools were demolished
when the new buildings were completed but Ormesby School's new building
technology block was retained and refurbished and the sports hall was also
kept. The new Priory Woods School has hydrotherapy, soft play, sensory garden,
music and dance areas. There is also a central section that includes facilities
shared by the two schools that allows integration between the pupils.
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| Starting off with a group of young people from Priory Woods School in Middlesborough on Day 107 of the BRIT 2012 Challenge |
I was given a full tour of the
facilities and it is a remarkable facility. What really impressed me was that I
constantly observed young people from both schools integrating; talking,
acknowledging each other and respecting each other. I have not seen so much
understanding by young people on such a high scale before and it was a pleasure
to see.
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| With young people from Ormseby School and Priory Woods School in Middlesborough |
Joined by groups of special needs young people from Priory Woods School and classes
from Ormesby School throughout the day, I relished in the opportunity to talk to all the young people I met. It was another great day of the BRIT 2012 Challenge and a day where I was educated by young people and had the opportunity to listen, understand and also observe how they all interacted together.
I finished Day 107 with 1208 miles
to go.
With best wishes,
Phil