Ormston School— Headingley Leeds

A new Headingley SEND school has opened it’s doors after the first round of refurbishments in Moorfield House. The newly developed Ormston School, part of the Polaris Community, is ready to welcome local pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with social, emotional and mental health challenges.

Ormston School, named after Headingley suffragist and writer Isabella Ormston Ford, has been established in the refurbished Moorfield House on Alma Road to provide much-needed educational resources for children with SEND.
The school held its first open day in June and received good feedback from attending parents, who highlighted the positive environment and facilities of the school.
Comments from parents, carers, and young people included: “We love it and can’t wait for our child to start,” “What a brilliant outdoor space and atmosphere,” and “My child will not want to leave.”
Initially, the school will open at half capacity accommodating up to 40 students aged between five and 18. When developments are complete the school will accommodate up to 80 students. This phased approach will ensure that the school can effectively tailor its provision and meet the needs of the pupils.

James Brown, the new head teacher at Ormston, said: “Receiving such lovely feedback from parents has been a great start to our journey here. We’re excited to start educating our first cohort, helping them to engage with learning, strengthen their skills, and build trusted relationships, which will help them throughout their education.”
Loren Cahill, project manager at Polaris who has overseen the work to date, said: “Ormston provides such a beautiful environment for a school and it’s been a great project breathing a new lease of life into the building over this first stage. Our vision is for schools to be a magical place for learning, and we know that Ormston’s architecture helps deliver just that.”

Ormston School's external space has been developed with a grassed area, forest school area, and sensory garden.
Phase two of the renovation will start imminently, focusing on the Grade II listed part of the school, which the Polaris team will sympathetically restore, providing more space for SEND children in the area.
Ormston School and the Polaris community work in conjunction with the local authority to provide educational placements for children with special educational needs and disabilities, including ASD, ADHD, FASD, and/or communication and interaction, cognition, and learning needs.