Blackfriars School is a large special school of 190 pupils from the age of 5 to 19 with a range of physical, learning, medical and sensory needs who come from North and Central Staffordshire and the Unitary Authority of Stoke-on-Trent. The School is a Technology & Vocational College, the lead school in the Leading Edge Partnership Programme, an Enterprise School and a Staffordshire Key Learning Centre. In its most recent Ofsted Report, February 2006, it was graded as Outstanding in every category. On the basis of this the DfES has granted the School High Performing Specialist Status.

The School is dual sited, with pupils aged 5 – 16 years educated on the site in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Post 16 education is based in Bucknall, some six miles away in the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

On the Newcastle site, the sports hall was built as a result of a lottery grant. It is a superb resource that not only serves the pupils of the School but also helps serve the local community whilst generating some welcome lettings revenue. Our Specialist Status can be seen in totally refurbished Design and Technology, Science, Maths and ICT facilities. Enhanced staffing in the Technology areas has impacted positively on all aspects of our work and pupil achievements.

On the Bucknall site, facilities include a new purpose built Community Building that enhances the delivery of the curriculum through vocational education. Students enjoy and benefit from the experience of running a Retail Outlet and a Cyber Cafe, alongside Manufacturing, Performing Arts and Enterprise Ventures. A group of young adults aged 19 - 21 are educated on the Bucknall site in a new venture set up between Blackfriars School, Stoke-on-Trent College and the Learning and Skills Council. This is an exciting phase which will see the expansion of Further Education opportunities for pupils with Special Needs in North Staffordshire over the next few years.

The School has a long and successful record of innovative partnerships; having been one of the first Beacon Schools, a lead school in the Leading Edge Partnership Programme and within the community element of its work as a Technology College, the School enjoys a close working relationship with Madeley High School and a number of local partner primary schools.

The School has built an expertise in providing Alternative and Augmentative Communication for pupils and students who require support with communication. The School has a highly skilled staff and provides a large resource base to support its own pupils and students and those in surrounding districts.

As a Staffordshire Key Learning Centre, the School provides a pro-active outreach support, training and resource base to over 130 local schools. Support includes advice for physical curriculum and social access to aid the inclusion of pupils with physical disabilities and serious medical conditions into mainstream schools.