A "REMARKABLE" Bradford school is celebrating being rated 'Outstanding' for a third time as it welcomes a new headteacher.

Beckfoot Hazelbeck Special School, on Wagon Lane in Bingley, received the highest rating when it was inspected in July - under the old Ofsted system whereby single word headlines were used.

The secondary school - which has 155 pupils, aged between 11 and 19, on its roll - has also recently appointed Lisa Little to take over from the departing headteacher, of 13 years, Beth McPhail.

The report notes that pupils arrive with smiles, ready to embark on a “vibrant and fulfilling day”.

Inspectors credited all the staff for delivering a truly exceptional broad and ambitious curriculum and extensive enrichment opportunities so that pupils thrive academically and personally. 

They were particularly impressed with the school's determination to secure the best possible outcomes for their pupils, describing the ambition for all pupils as “relentless.”

The report said the school's atmosphere was calm and respectful, with staff stating that they “come to school with a smile and leave with a smile”. 

New Director of Special at the trust Beth McPhail said: “During the 13 years that I have worked at Hazelbeck, as a team, we have been wholly committed to supporting the young people in our care so that they can enjoy, learn and succeed.

"It is this tenacious approach that has led to the successive outstanding judgements.

"I am always very proud of our community and it is great that their ‘remarkableness’ has been recognised in this so richly deserved report.

"I am looking forward to my new role and continuing to support Beckfoot Hazelbeck and our other nine schools in our mission to deliver truly inclusive education."

New head Lisa Little, who has over 30 years of experience working in special schools across the North, said: “We are so proud to have retained our Outstanding grade from Ofsted at Beckfoot Hazelbeck.

"Since joining the school in June, I have experienced first-hand how hard staff in our school and across our trust work to ensure that our students can enjoy, learn and succeed.

"We will continue to work to build on our exceptional provision, to ensure that no child is left behind.”

Shirley Watson, CEO of the Beckfoot Trust, said: “Our trust mission is to ‘create remarkable schools where no child is left behind.’

"It is wonderful to hear external affirmation that our mission and our values of enjoy, learn, succeed are lived and breathed in Beckfoot Hazelbeck Special School."