Two Nottinghamshire schools have been shortlisted as among the best in the country by awards judges. The pair of Nottinghamshire schools have been listed for different categories at the Tes Schools Awards 2022 awards ceremony which takes place on Friday, June 17.
The industry awards are decided by experts who rate schools based on a range of aspects. Entry is open to all UK state and independent early years settings, primary schools and secondary schools.
R.E.A.L Independent Schools, based on Mansfield Road, Blidworth, has been shortlisted for the award of Independent Senior School of the Year. The school has stated its aims as being to "provide a service that meets the needs of children and young people who are particularly hard to place, and for whom traditional avenues of engagement have been exhausted"
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The school states that a high standard of behaviour is expected from students, staff, parents/ carers and visitors. There are four R.E.A.L Independent Schools, with one in Blidworth, Mansfield and Ilkeston, and another further away in Hinckley.
The school's site says that all R.E.A.L. learning sites are "carefully considered and constructed to maintain a small, non-threatening and welcoming learning space suitable for both formal and informal approaches to learning".
In its latest Ofsted report in November 2021, the Mansfield site of R.E.A.L Independent Schools was rated Good by inspectors. The education watchdog praised its leader's understanding of the independent school standards and aspirational careers strategy and careers programme.
The Stone Soup Academy on High Pavement, Lace Market has been shortlisted for the School of the Year for Staff Wellbeing award. The school takes referrals from across the East Midlands, with the school only set up for students at risk of exclusion.
In 2021, the Stone Soup Academy was crowned Alternative Provision (AP) School of the Year in the annual Times Education Supplement (TES) Schools Awards. It was the only education provider in Nottinghamshire to be shortlisted in one of the 18 categories.
The academy was rated Outstanding in its last Ofsted report in 2019. The regulator stated the school was a "unique school is a vibrant and welcoming place, where pupils are supported to develop their confidence, self-esteem and education".
The inspectors concluded the needs of pupils are at the centre of everything the school does on a daily basis. Pupils told Ofsted they enjoyed coming to school and felt safe and supported to learn.
