Its official, St Elizabeth's School is "Outstanding"

St Elizabeth's Catholic Special School at Much Hadham near Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire, is celebrating its best-ever report from Government inspectors. The School, which is residential, has been awarded the highest possible rating as an "outstanding" school for the quality of both its care and its education by inspectors from Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education.

Brian Sainsbury, School Principal, said "We are absolutely delighted by this report. It reflects an inclusive school community with children's wellbeing and development at the centre of all we do".

Chair of Governors, Sister Annette Clemence, added "The children did the school proud and so did all members of our extended and welcoming community at St Elizabeth's Centre. We know the school does excellent work, but it is wonderful also to have this recognised by professional, independent inspectors".

The school specialises in working with young people who have epilepsy and/or other moderate, severe or sometimes profound learning difficulties and multiple difficulties, or other neurological conditions which may have been caused or complicated by epilepsy, such as autism.

The report found that the school does exceptionally well for all its pupils. A major strength was the way an excellent waking day curriculum and outstanding care, therapy and health services are interwoven to provide comprehensive support for all students, including post-16. Inspectors also noted that pupils made excellent progress in their personal development, reflecting the school's Catholic ethos and objectives in enabling children to fulfil their potential and "live life to the full".

St Elizabeth's was established over 100 years ago and is administered by a charitable religious order, The Daughters of the Cross of Liège. A full copy of the Ofsted report is available on the school website at www.stelizabeths.org.uk