A Yeovil special school is celebrating 19 years of 'Outstanding' education.

Staff and pupils from Fiveways Special School were joined by guests including the lord lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq, and leader of Somerset Council, councillor Bill Revans, to unveil a plaque to honour the achievement.

The local authority-maintained school was awarded its most recent 'Outstanding' rating following an inspection in June this year.

(Image: Somerset Council) It has been praised by Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s chief inspector at Ofsted, in a letter to the school.

Swavek Nowakiewicz, headteacher, said: "We are incredibly proud to celebrate not only our outstanding rating from the most recent inspection in June 2024, but also the past 19 years of consistent recognition for the high-quality education we provide our pupils.

"It was a pleasure to share this moment with key representatives from the local authority, and an honour to receive the award from the lord lieutenant of Somerset, Mr Mohammed Saddiq."

(Image: Somerset Council)

Councillor Bill Revans, leader of Somerset Council, who attended the event, said: "It was a privilege to meet the inspirational headteacher Swavek Nowakiewicz, meet many of the staff and students and look at the amazing work that they do for students with a huge variety of needs.

"From reception through to its sixth form it is clearly a school that is embedded in its community.

"Many congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement."

Fiveways School has also recently become the first school in the South West to be awarded Centre of Excellence status for their MOVE programme.