Welcome to The Park School

The Park School was judged to be outstanding for the third time by Ofsted, in February 2015.

 
 
 

We are delighted that the lead inspector recognised the developments we have made in reading and that progress in reading is 'exceptional'.

After our inspection in February 2015 The Park School was judged as outstanding again. All three inspections since 2004 have been outstanding.

 

 The report summarised many of the areas we are particularly proud of, recognising that:

 
“There is a strong ethos of tolerance and respect throughout the school. The school’s work to keep pupils safe and secure is outstanding.”
“Students across the school make outstanding progress in English and Mathematics. Achievement in reading is exceptional. Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is exceptional.”
“Students’ attitudes to their learning and to staff are exceptionally positive because teachers make lessons interesting and motivate students to learn.”

SEN Specialist College for Communication & Interaction

The Park School has increased to 110 secondary aged students this year, all of whom have learning difficulties. We have a Language Specialism permeating the curriculum.

The school is within walking distance of Woking town centre and is set in a secluded 7 acre site. The school is well resourced and has benefited from an injection of funding from the Local Authority which extended and improved our accommodation. We have a multi-faith garden which provides an outdoor classroom area with a stage and seating.

The ethos of our school reflects the importance that we place on academic, social and emotional development. Our emphasis is on developing individual potential whilst fostering caring and positive attitudes.

Students participate in a full range of social activities, visits and outings. Clubs to suit all interests are organised at lunchtimes across the week. We also offer a Breakfast Club every morning.

We have a team of staff that provide additional therapy sessions: speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behaviour support, pet therapy, music therapy including drumming, guitar and composing sessions, horticulture and tai chi, all of which contribute towards individual student development.

 

The Park School is included in:

 
“The extraordinarily strong feeling of commitment and a desire to support others forms the basis of why this school is so successful.”
— Investors in People
 

Respect & Achievement for all

The Park School always welcomes visitors and links with the local community. We hold monthly visiting days for prospective parents so that they can meet us and tour the school. Our students are always keen to show their work to visitors and explain what they are learning. We are very proud of our calm and purposeful working ethos.

We have a very strong behaviour management strategy. We provide rewards and incentives for appropriate behaviour, we have high expectations and students strive for continual improvement in their attitude, behaviour and work whilst respecting and supporting each other.

We have thriving partnerships with other local schools and offer outreach training to their staff. 

Our priority areas for school improvement this year are:

  1. Resilience - Staff, students and family well-being

  2. Succession - New Leadership Team. Induction, mentoring and coaching

  3. Reflective Enquiry - Accurate data informing personalised progression pathways

  4. Language for Learning - Learning Conversations that promote progress and independence

  5. Language for Friendship - Mutual respect, working together and staying safe

  6. Language for Work - Preparation for adulthood. Work attitude and ethics

 
“We have both been at The Park for 15 years and in the last four years have moved to a very successful model of Co-Headship. We have had 3 outstanding Ofsted inspections and achieved Investors in People Gold Standard. Our dynamic leadership team share a passion for innovation and creativity. We have a stable, highly skilled staff team with developments taking place across key stages and in many areas of the curriculum throughout the year.

Our accomodation has improved and is regularly updated. We have a modern technology block, an amazing music studio and a cafe in the centre of the school, acting as a social hub and learning environment. Our most recent project has been a new modular building that now enables both Year 11 classes to spend time together. Our outdoor environment enables us to make the most of unstructured time during the day with our outdoor gym, multi-faith garden, gazeboes and football pitch.
”
— Karen Eastwood & Paul Walsh: Co-Headteachers