We are delighted to announce that Ashmount scooped three prizes at the Leicester Mercury Education Awards held at the King Power Stadium on Thursday 6th December 2018. 

Ashmount was named winners of the 'School of the Year' and 'Community Champions' awards and were shortlisted as one of two runners-up in the 'Health Schools' award.   

For the 'School of the Year' award, a judging panel concluded: ‘Ashmount School has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted three times in a row. The special school for pupils between the ages of 4 and 19 with a range of special educational needs, was judged by Ofsted to have an outstanding quality of education throughout. In April 2018, Ashmount was designated as a National Support School by the Department for Education as a result of headteacher David Deacon being designated as a National Leader of Education in the latest recruitment round. The award is in recognition of the school’s continued high standards of teaching and learning and in recognition of the impact the school has had in recent years when supporting other schools across the country. The staff, governors and families at Ashmount really do work together to ensure that pupils are provided with the highest standards of care and education.’

In the 'Community Champion' award, the Leicester Mercury reported: ‘In January 2018, Ashmount was inspected by Ofsted and judged to be ‘Outstanding’ for the third time in a row within seven years and each week, the school opens its doors to a range of professional trainees including doctors, nurses, social workers, police officers and community support workers from organisations like Leicester City Football Club, giving them the opportunity to work alongside children and young people with special educational needs so they can be better trained and more highly skilled in supporting people with special needs and disabilities when they take up roles in our community. The school is active in raising money for charity and in April was designated as a National Support School by the Department for Education in recognition of its continued high standards of teaching and learning and the recent Ofsted inspection.’

Finally, the school was named as one of two runners-up in the 'Healthy Schools' award, with the Leicester Mercury writing: ‘Promoting a healthy lifestyle is always on the curriculum at Ashmount, a special school for pupils with a range of special educational needs. Staff teams regularly take part in sports tournaments organised by Leicestershire and Rutland Sport, as well as weekly after school yoga and running sessions which have led to staff taking part in a range of sponsored runs and walks over the last year. Many of the pupils have specialist dietary requirements, so healthy menus are put together by the school kitchen staff working under the guidance of the local authority dietician. In September 2018, Ashmount was awarded Healthy School status by Leicestershire County Council and has also achieved the Gold School Games Mark Award for the third year running for the 2017/18 academic year. Pupils have also held sports days, tried archery and visited a BMX Jam as well as taking part in a sensory Santa Fun Run.'  

Thank you to all of our pupils, parents, staff, governors and volunteers for their continued support and hard work. 

Ashmount is featured in a special supplement in today's Leicester Mercury.