School for autistic students ranked outstanding by Ofsted after being placed in special measures

A South Manchester school that specialises in autism needs has been rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in all areas after being put into special measures in 2017.

Grange School, a school for those aged between three and 19 was visited by Ofsted in December 2017. Inspectors then deemed the school "failed to provide an acceptable standard of education."

The result meant that the school in Gorton had to rapidly improve in all of their areas or it could have been forced to close.

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In 2019, Grange School started the transformation after appointing a new headteacher and joining Prospere Trust, an organisation that works collaboratively between academies to ensure that all the schools become the ‘best that they can be’.

Grange School enforced a new curriculum to help develop certain areas and to also teach students efficiently and make the content exciting and immersive for them.

The transformation has brought about a series of different immersive learning tools including a doctor's surgery, a sweet shop, a grocery store and a mechanics garage.

The school also brought in its own farm and included animals such as alpacas, pigs and miniature sheep. Animals are known to calm people, especially those who are autistic helping them emotionally and providing social communication.

A school cafe was also added to give students the chance to become trained baristas and gain qualifications in hospitality and catering.

Younger students had an area filled with indoor sand and water to help pupils use their science and maths knowledge in practical learning methods.

The school, on Matthews Lane, was revisited by Ofsted in October 2023 for a two-day full inspection, their first