| RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Wheelwright Lane , , CV7 9RA England | |
| Coordinates | 52°27′22″N 1°30′24″W / 52.4561°N 1.5066°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | Rushton Hall School |
| Type | Special school |
| Established | 1957 |
| Closed | 7 November 2018[1] |
| Department for Education URN | 122155 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 2 to 19 |
RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning, formerly Rushton Hall School, was a school and children’s home for young people who were blind or partially sighted and who also had multiple disabilities or complex needs such as severe or profound learning disabilities, physical disabilities, additional sensory impairment, healthcare needs and autistic spectrum disorders. The school, based just outside Coventry, was run by RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People).
RNIB Pears Centre was categorised by Ofsted as a special, non-maintained school for 2- to 19-year-olds and as a children's home. Each service was inspected separately by Ofsted. The children's home was rated as "Outstanding" by Ofsted in November 2011. The school also achieved an "Outstanding" Ofsted grading in February 2013, but in November 2017 it was graded as "Inadequate".[2]
The Charity Commission for England and Wales launched an inquiry into the school in 2018 following a sexual abuse allegation.[3] Its report, published in 2020 after a two-year investigation, described a "catalogue of serious failings" at the school and said that "This is one of the worst examples we have uncovered of poor governance and oversight having a direct impact on vulnerable people".[4]
On 4 September 2018 RNIB announced that both the children's home and school would close; the closure took place on 7 November 2018.[5]
- ^ Mullen, Enda (7 September 2018). "Children's home and school for blind children to close in wake of damning Ofsted report". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, Deb; Edgerton, Jane; Craig, John (14 November 2017). "School report RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning". Ofsted. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Guardian2018was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
CovTel2018was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "A message from Eleanor Southwood, our Chair". rnib.org.uk. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.