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“Mary Hare School continues to be recognised for its high level of residential care after maintaining Outstanding in all areas following their annual Ofsted visit.

Mary Hare School is the largest residential school for deaf children and young people based in Newbury, Berkshire. With students attending from across the UK, most students also board at the school. Ofsted Social Care visits are made annually to ensure that appropriate standards of residential care are in place for the young people. Following their visit in January, the residential care at Mary Hare School was judged to be Outstanding in all areas.

From the report, it shared, ‘Children make substantial progress in the residential provision. For many children and their families, the process of moving to the school has a transformative impact on their lives’ and that ‘Residential staff… have high aspirations for what children achieve and understand the importance of their roles as primary caring staff.’

This is reflected in some quotes that were shared from families, with one parent saying, ‘My child has found a deaf peer group that has been essential in helping them to understand their identity and where they fit within the wider world and society. The school is a truly special place’, whilst another parent shared, ‘My child loves the school. The support in place is very high quality. My child is happy and content and now really engaged in their learning.’

The visit recognised that there is a ‘highly inclusive culture across the school’, with staff supporting students to explore their own individual identity and help ‘children to make important connections with their peers in the school and in wider society’.

Safeguarding at the school has also been acknowledged as being ‘comprehensive’ and ‘children’s welfare are well understood and thoroughly investigated when new concerns arise.’

The report also shared, ‘Children who previously struggled in mainstream settings are thriving socially and academically, with improved confidence and engagement in learning’, demonstrating the school’s holistic working between in-house therapists, wellbeing staff, teachers and residential staff to maximise on the young people’s potential.

Robin Askew, Principal of Mary Hare School, shares his delight in the results, ‘I feel proud and privileged to be leading a school that has such a positive impact on deaf children and young people. The professionalism and skills of the residential care team, alongside their colleagues from across the whole organisation, are rightly acknowledged within this report and will continue to inspire and support our deaf learners. Everyone at Mary Hare remains ambitious for our pupils in proving deafness is not a barrier to success.’

For more information about Mary Hare School and to read the full report, visit: “