The Holmewood School scoops two national awards

Cavendish Education is thrilled to announce that The Holmewood School has won not one but two prestigious tes ISAwards!

First off, the school scooped the Senior Leadership Team of the Year award and it was their commitment to putting student and staff welfare first that set it apart for judges.

The team’s holistic and open-minded approach shapes the school: as Ofsted noted at a 2018 inspection, “staff share leaders’ vision to ‘think differently’ about pupils on the autistic spectrum”.

Lead judge John Claughton said: “Holmewood richly deserved to win not only through the quality of their submission but also because it is important to show that there are outstanding specialist schools in the independent sector for students with special educational needs. That diversity of provision is too often hidden.”

Minutes after, they were also named as winners of the Special Needs Initiative of the Year award, with Holmewood winning plaudits from the judges for its creative and practical cooking initiative, “The Occupational Therapy Café”.

The café team consists of five students, including a baker, senior chef and several trainees, supported by occupational therapists. Café members have not only improved their motor skills through cooking but also boosted their confidence navigating social situations such as dealing with customers. Some students have enjoyed the project so much they now want to pursue in a career in the culinary field.

Lead judge Margaret Mulholland said: “This is a wonderful example of a social enterprise initiative set up by the Occupational Therapy team to explicitly strengthen motor skills development whilst supporting steps toward employability.

“The pride of the young people, parents and other stakeholders shone through in this application.”

Headteacher, Lisa Camilleri said: “I am delighted and so proud of our wonderful team… to take away (two) awards was a big surprise and is testament to all the work we’ve done over the last three years.”

We are also very proud of you all – well done and congratulations!

A full list of winners and shortlisted finalists can be found on the tes awards website.