July 1, 2019, Bristol Live: How Bristol's only autism school has been transformed into something amazing https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/how-bristols-only-autism-school-3040634 The only school in Bristol specifically set up for children with autism has on track to become a ‘beacon of excellence’ within just a couple of years of opening. A glowing Ofsted report has revealed that a ‘curiosity curriculum’ which gets pupils out and doing active things rather than be stuck in a classroom is the key to the success. Venturers Academy was relaunched as an academy in 2016 after being taken over by a special trust run by the Merchant Venturers, and they hired special needs super-head Trystan Williams to transform the school. … Ofsted inspectors visited in the middle of June and their report has rated the academy as ‘Good with Outstanding features’. Venturers, in Withywood, is Bristol’s only school for children with a primary diagnosis of autism, and places are in huge demand. Children come from all over Bristol to attend it, and there has been controversy over expansion plans. It has 95 pupils on roll, aged between four and 16, and a second site will open within the grounds of the Kingfisher School in St Anne’s Park on the other side of South Bristol, which will provide another 36 places.
