Our charity’s Radlett Lodge School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, along with a recent ‘Good’ rating from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

Radlett Lodge School launched in 1975 as a primary school for autistic children and later expanded to support children into their teenage years. The school now supports autistic children and young people aged from five to 19 years old.  

The school celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special fun day for primary and secondary pupils and their families. Over 150 attended and enjoyed the various stalls, face painting, three bouncy castles and a visit from a free ice cream van. 

As well as celebrating its 50th birthday, Radlett Lodge School was recently rated ‘Good’ with areas of ‘Outstanding’ practice by Ofsted.

The Ofsted report said: "Radlett Lodge is a small school with a big heart. Staff care deeply about their pupils, fostering a culture where safety and well-being are the highest priorities. High-quality interactions between staff and pupils help create a nurturing environment where pupils feel comfortable and secure. At the same time, staff maintain high expectations for learning. Pupils rise to meet these challenges with enthusiasm and determination. As a result, they learn well."

The report said pupils’ voices are "heard loud and clear”, adding: “Those with limited or no speech use their chosen communication tools to share their ideas well. This is evident in the work of the student council. Whether arranging the recent ‘splash day’, choosing new playground equipment or preparing the school’s upcoming fiftieth birthday party, pupils play an integral part in making choices about their school."

Stuart Mainwaring, Principal at Radlett Lodge School, said: "We are delighted with the final report which not only captures what it’s like to be a pupil at Radlett Lodge School but also recognises the hard work, dedication and passion of every member of our staff team. As we celebrate the school’s 50th Anniversary, it was fitting to conclude the year with this acknowledgment of how friendly and supportive the community is at Radlett Lodge School."

Josh Fitzgerald, Director of Education and Children’s Services at the National Autistic Society, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Radlett Lodge School, as well as achieving a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted. We’re immensely proud of all our staff for their incredible hard work and dedication to our pupils. We will continue to do all we can to support autistic children and young people to thrive at school."
 

Further information 

• Read the full Ofsted report. 

• Find out more about Radlett Lodge School.

• Read more about our education and children’s services.

• Read our advice and guidance about education.