St John's Catholic School for the Deaf
St John's Catholic School for the Deaf | |
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Address | |
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Church Street , , LS23 6DF England | |
Coordinates | 53°53′58″N 1°21′06″W / 53.899417°N 1.351650°W |
Information | |
Type | Non-maintained special school; SEN Specialism Sensory and/or Physical Needs |
Religious affiliation(s) | Catholic |
Established | 1870 |
Founder | Désiré de Haerne |
Local authority | Leeds |
Department for Education URN | 108120 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports |
Head teacher | Ann Bradbury |
Staff | 25 teachers, 11 learning support assistants, 22 care staff and others |
Gender | mixed |
Age | 3 to 19 |
Enrolment | 84 |
Website | http://www.stjohns.org.uk |
St John's Catholic School for the Deaf is a school for deaf and hearing impaired children in
St John's Catholic School for the Deaf is referred to as "Boston Spa" in British Sign Language. Many past pupils are leaders, educators, teachers and businessmen in the Deaf Community. Lara Crooks, a past pupil, was a regular presenter for See Hear, a TV programme for deaf and hard of hearing people in the United Kingdom. Gerry Hughes, the round the world yachtsman, was also a pupil.[1][2]
St John's School provides a day and boarding education for deaf and hard of hearing children and young people. In the primary department, teachers use the Maternal Reflective Method of English language teaching, pioneered by Father van Uden, a Dutch oralist based at the Institution for the Deaf in Sint Michielsgestel.[3] In the Post-16 section, young people are provided with note-takers to support them when they attend local colleges, in particular York College and Askham Bryan College.[4]
The School was subject to controversy in 2008, when compensation was awarded to seven men who were victims of a
Gabby Logan (the school's patron) presented a BBC Radio 4 Appeal on Easter Sunday 2009 to raise funds for an Expressive Arts Resource (EAR). The new drama studio was officially opened in October 2012 by Monsignor John Wilson of the Diocese of Leeds.[5]
Nickname
While the School's official name is St John's Catholic School for the Deaf, it is referred to by the past pupils and the deaf community as "Boston Spa", the village where the School is situated, and as it is easier to lipread.
Belgian Sign Language
Boston Spa was the only school in England that used a sign language other than
Language policy
In the early days,[
The Chapel
The barrel-vaulted chapel, opened on 30 October 1889, was designed in a late
Catholic priest paedophile settlement controversy
In September 2008, the
Ofsted reports
2015 inspection
Ofsted inspected the School in February 2015 judging it to be Grade 2 (Good), stating that "School leaders have continued to build upon the good standards identified in the previous inspection report", "Teaching is nearly always good, with some examples of outstanding practice", "Students who attend the sixth form unit make excellent progress".[10]
Earlier inspections
Ofsted inspected the School in October 2008 and found it to be Grade 4 (Inadequate), stating that "Significant improvement is required to ensure the School's recruitment policies and procedures comply with all the legislative requirements for the safeguarding of pupils",[11] however the "Effectiveness of the sixth form" (16–19 years of age) was rated Grade 1 (Outstanding). Ofsted inspected again in January 2009, and assessed the school as Grade 2 (Good), stating "The school has swiftly put matters right and all the procedures that are currently required to help safeguard children are now in place."[12] An inspection in February 2012 ranked the school as Grade 2 (Good), with "Behaviour and safety of pupils" ranked as Grade 1 (Outstanding).[13] Ofsted inspected the School's residential care provision in March 2013 and judged the school to be 'Outstanding' in all categories.[citation needed]
Community partnership
St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf was shortlisted in 2011 by the
Gabby Logan
Gabby Logan, the school patron, presented the School with the Gabby Logan Gymnastics Trophy. The cup is awarded each year to the pupil making the most progress in gymnastics.[15]
Academic credentials
A 2012 survey by SIL International found that past pupils in Northern Ireland from Boston Spa and Mary Hare School are known for higher academic credentials than is usual in the deaf community and often obtain higher paying and more desirable jobs.[16]
References
- ^ Gerrys Life. gerrysmhughes.com
- ISBN 978-1-902427-28-7.
- ^ "Maternal Reflective Method". St John's Catholic School for the Deaf. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ "Post-16 department". St John's Catholic School for the Deaf. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Appeal". Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ "Picture of Monsignor de Haerne". Leodis – a photographic archive of Leeds. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ "Seven former deaf pupils win cash". Yorkshire Evening Post. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ Kate O'Hara (7 August 2006). "Victims of paedophile priest to sue church". The Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 11 August 2006.
- ^ Minister & Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors. "Submission to Cumberlege Commission October 2006" (PDF). p. 50. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Inspection Report (11–12 February 2015)" (PDF). Ofsted. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Inspection Report (14–15 October 2008)" (PDF). Ofsted. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Inspection report (20–21 January 2009)" (PDF). Ofsted. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Inspection Report (29 February - 1 March 2012)" (PDF). Ofsted. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "The TES School Awards – 2011 Shortlist". Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ "TV star presents new award to school for deaf – Your community". Wetherby News. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ Parks, Elizabeth; Parks, Jason (1 January 2012). "A Survey Report of the Deaf People of Northern Ireland" (PDF). SIL International. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
Further reading
Boston Spa : the story of St. John's Catholic School for Deaf Children, 1875–1975; Joselyn Taylor. Addlestone: British Deaf History Society Publications, 2007. vii, 132 p.
Deafness of the mind : the forgotten children of Boston Spa by Kevin Fitzgerald. Published Manchester : Kevin Fitzgerald 2010 (
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Ofsted reports
- DCMS Achievement and attainment tables 2008 [dead link] (Secondary school)