Latest news at Ashmount School......

• Ashmount shortlisted in Leicester Mercury Education Awards 2019

  Fri 29 Nov 2019

  We are delighted to announce that Ashmount has been shortlisted for the 'Healthy School' award in this year's Leicester Mercury Education Awards 2019. 

   

  The shortlisting is in recognition of the school's commitment to promoting sports, physical education and swimming opportunities for our pupils.

   

  In July 2019, the school was awarded the Youth Sports Trust Gold Award, and the School Games Gold Mark for the fourth year in a row.

   

  The winners and finalists of the awards will be announced at a presentation event due to be held at the King Power Stadium in December 2019. 

• Harry Potter comes to Ashmount

  Thu 28 Nov 2019

  This month, teachers and support staff at Ashmount School worked their magic to transform the school into Hogwarts’ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a two day Harry Potter- themed festival.

   

  On arrival at school, pupils made their way through Platform 9 ¾ to the sounds of a live orchestra playing music from the films, before posing for a photo alongside a life-sized replica of the Hogwarts Express, complete with authentic railway sounds and smoke.

   

  Other life-sized replicas featured around the school included a dragon suspended from the foyer ceiling and a replica of Hagrid’s famous motor bike, specially adapted for access by wheel-chair users.

   

  We opened our doors to pupils and staff from six special schools and a range of mainstream schools from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Derbyshire who were all invited to experience the sights and sounds of the popular series of books written by J. K. Rowling.

   

  Trainee teachers from our Initial Teacher Training programme joined in the fun to learn how to plan and deliver whole school events.

   

  All fifteen of our classes transformed their classrooms into scenes from the popular books and films, ranging from Gringott’s Bank to Professor’s Sprout’s Herbology Class.

   

  Our pupils were given the opportunity to experience owls flying in the school hall and treated to performances from the Leicestershire-based Bamboozle Theatre Company. Other highlights included a reptile handling and mini-beast experience provided by ‘Meet the Beasts’, an interactive hands-on science experience inside a mobile dome, an up-close and fully interactive potions lab and bubble show, and a Wizard Maths Workshop led by staff from Loughborough company 3M.

   

  All of the staff, students and volunteers dressed as characters from the books and films for the two day festival, which culminated in an after school fancy dress disco for pupils and their families.  

   

  Headteacher David Deacon said, ‘We were delighted with how well all of our staff, pupils and their families engaged with the Harry Potter theme. The props and scenery created by our staff team and volunteers were absolutely incredible and really helped to get everyone into the spirit of the festival.’

   

  Deputy Headteacher Abi Steady said, ‘With the help of countless volunteers within school and many generous donations from local companies we were able to create a truly magical experience for our amazing young people. At Ashmount we are passionate about making the seemingly impossible possible and this is another shining example of how the Ashmount team committed to giving whatever it takes to bring a dream to life.’ 

• Charity walk with a difference

  Thu 28 Nov 2019

  In October 2019, Alex Kowal (age 37), the uncle of one of our pupils completed a 20 mile charity walk across Leicestershire with a difference.

   

  Alex said, ‘My nephew was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 3. When the family was told, we were upset and wondered what we could do to help him. Ever since my nephew has attended Ashmount Special School in Loughborough, he has been a completely different child. He is more open and there is a smile on his face every time I see him.’

   

  ‘To thank his school and to raise awareness of autism, I decided to set myself the challenge of walking 20 miles from my home in Wigston to Ashmount School in Loughborough without the aid of many of my senses.’

   

  Alex was blindfolded and wore ear defenders muffling out all background sounds, and was unable to speak for the whole duration of the walk.

  Alex said, ‘Some people with autism can have sensitive senses that can cause them to have an outburst, so I wanted to have my sight and hearing taken away and refrained from talking throughout the walk.’

   

  Family and friends were allocated one mile legs of the journey each in relay and guided Alex by linking arms with him and using body sign language to communicate with him.

   

  Alex had been made aware of the start and finish points of the route but was not told of the route or which volunteers were helping him at any particular time.

   

  Alex completed his journey in 8 hours and 45mins, a full 2 hours ahead of the expected time.

   

  Ashmount Headteacher David Deacon said, ‘We are incredibly proud of Alex for setting himself such an ambitious challenge and for completing it in such a good time. We would like to thank Alex and all of the friends and family members who supported him on his journey. The funds raised will make a huge difference to the pupils who attend Ashmount School and will allow the National Autistic Society to provide specialist autism services to an even wider group of autistic people, parents, carers and professionals.’

   

  The funds raised by the Alex will be shared equally between Ashmount Special School and the National Autistic Society. To date, Alex has raised almost £1,000 from the walk.

   

  (Pictured is Alex Kowal in front of Ashmount School)