Mary Rose School

Mary Rose School

Type	Community Special School
Specialism	Sports
Location	Gisors Road Southsea Portsmouth Hampshire PO4 8GT England
Local authority	Portsmouth
DfE URN	134881
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	2–19
Website	maryrose.portsmouth.sch.uk

Coordinates: 50°47′35″N 1°03′18″W / 50.79296°N 1.05487°W / 50.79296; -1.05487

Mary Rose School is a 2-19 community special school in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England that opened in February 2007 and educates 110 pupils.^[1] The opening of the school, due for September 2006, was delayed by design and construction issues.^[2][3] The school takes children with a wide range of severe and complex learning needs. Mary Rose has been awarded specialist Sports College status.^[4]

Wheelchair basketball player and Paralympic broadcaster Ade Adepitan formally opened the school in 2007 and officially opened its specialist sports college status in October 2008.^[4]

Many of the school's pupils have physical disabilities and health issues. Headteacher Alison Beane has stated that "Sport, wellbeing and fitness all go together to help move [pupils with disabilities or health issues] forward, to develop their physical skills" and noted sport is a great motivating element. The school also co-operates with Priory School in Southsea, which promotes excellence in physical education and community sport.^[4]

Achieving sports college status means that after the school raised £20,000, the government provided £100,000 in capital build funding to develop "The Studio", a room for dance, gymnastics, fitness work including sensory integration with sound, lighting, and space. In addition, the school will receive £60,000 a year over the following four years toward staffing and community partnership enhancements.^[4]

In the report of their November 2007 inspection, Ofsted gave the school an overall assessment of Good, point two on a four point scale. However, both the Foundation Stage and the sixth form were assessed as Outstanding.^[5]

References

1. ^ "We're so glad to be here at long last!", Europe Intelligence Wire, 26 February 2007.
2. ^ "New special school will be named Mary Rose ", Portsmouth News, 26 September 2005
3. ^ "Design issues delay school", Building Design, 26 May 2006
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Donovan, Sion (2008-10-17). "School has special place in Paralympic broadcaster's heart". Johnston Press. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/School-has-special-place-in.4602119.jp. Retrieved 2008-10-31. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ "Mary Rose School - Inspection report", Ofsted, 3 December 2007

External links

• Official site