Poole-based Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT) has shared its outstanding teaching methods with a VIP from the United Arab Emirates. Picture caption: from left – Noura Ibrahim Al Marri, Director of the Special Education Department, Ministry of Education, UAE, with Gavin O’Connell, associate principal of Longspee Academy and pupils.
Poole-based Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT) has shared its outstanding teaching methods with a VIP from the United Arab Emirates.
Noura Ibrahim Al Marri, Director of the Special Education Department at the Ministry of Education, UAE, visited AAT’s Manorside Academy and Longspee Academy in Poole.
Ms Al Marri is involved in a major project in the United Arab Emirates to accommodate more children with special needs into mainstream schools.
After meeting Trust staff at Manorside Academy in Evering Avenue, she visited Longspee Academy in Learoyd Road, which provides education for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties.
In April 2016, ofsted inspectors awarded Longspee Academy an outstanding grade in all areas, from its quality of teaching, to its leadership and pupil outcomes.
It also recommended the Academy shares its recipe for success by offering the expertise of its middle leadership team to other schools.
Ms Al Marri visited classrooms to see how bespoke learning is enabling students with special needs to reach their full academic and social potential.
She said: “In the UAE, children with special needs are taught all together, regardless of their emotional or educational difficulties. So it has been fascinating to witness Ambitions’ bespoke teaching methods first-hand.
“The children and staff I met during my visit were delightful and I look forward to sharing all I have learned with my colleagues.”
Ms Al Marri was introduced to the work of Ambitions Academies Trust by former Longspee headteacher Sean Pavitt, who is now a senior inspector in SEN/Inclusion at Dubai School Inspection Bureau.
Nicki Morton, Director of Special Education at AAT, said: “We were very honoured to host the director and to show her how AAT is helping its pupils with special educational needs to aspire and achieve.
“It is very encouraging to know that our successes may also be used to help children on the other side of the world.”
Media information – Debbie Granville, account director at Deep South Media, on 01202 534487 mobile: 07884 657782 or email: debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Longspee joined Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT), which is renowned for transforming under-achieving schools, in September 2013.
Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT), formerly Tregonwell Multi-Academy Trust, comprises schools from all sectors – mainstream (primary and secondary) and special. These are: Queen’s Park Academy, Longspee Special School, King’s Park Academy, Manorside Academy, St Aldhelm’s Academy and Ambitions Teaching School (formerly Tregonwell Academy). The Trust has also opened Little Ambers Nursery at King’s Park Academy.
