At the heart of everything we do at Outcomes First Group is a relentless focus on the highest possible standards and levels of service. We’re proud to launch our Outcomes First Group Impact Report 2025, reflecting our commitment to positive outcomes, innovation, and the continual expansion of our services. In a milestone year for our organisation, we’ve expanded our reach and shared the expertise of our brilliant staff worldwide. Published annually, the Impact Report highlights what we’ve achieved throughout the academic year - another strong year of progress across our schools and services. Inside, you’ll find: 🌟 Lasting positive impacts 🎓 Exceptional exam achievements 🏫 School and individual success stories 💡 Initiatives driving continuous improvement 🏅 Awards and adventures 🤝 New collaborations and specialist support 🌱 Our commitment to a greener future 💬 What makes us a Great Place to Work Our work ensures every child can access the education that is right for them. Read how we’re leading change in exceptional education - transforming lives and creating brighter futures for individuals, families, and communities.
Don’t miss our Group CEO, David Leatherbarrow, on the SEND Leaders Panel at this year’s Education Summit. He’ll be joining Aatif Hassan to explore the opportunities, challenges, and future of the sector - a conversation not to be missed. The Education Summit is the UK’s leading conference for investors, advisors, and operators in education, bringing together key voices to shape the future of learning.
We are proud to announce that Outcomes First Group has been officially recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ in Education & Training. This recognition reflects the culture we are building together - one where colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. It demonstrates that we are not only delivering excellence in education but also living our values every day. Most importantly, this achievement highlights the power of our people in shaping Outcomes First Group into a truly great place to work. Thank you to all of our colleagues across the Group. Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment have made this recognition possible.
Inquiry Projects Making an Impact Across Our Schools Our structured, collaborative Inquiry Project, rooted in the framework developed by Carpenter & Egerton (2011) enables our teams to reflect on key challenges, explore new approaches, and evaluate their impact meaningfully. Options Barton successfully implemented proactive strategies via the engagement model, fostering positive pupil engagement by strengthening staff collaboration, anticipating behavioural needs, and embedding consistent support strategies. Through regular reflective practice, staff were better supported, and pupil engagement improved significantly. Underley Garden School developed a flexible pathway for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) learners, already delivering positive outcomes. This work could lay the foundation for a group-wide best practice hub on PDA. The Grange Therapeutic School showcased the impact of their work through heartfelt quotes from pupils, parents, and carers. The transformation of a young person who first joined in 2020 reminded us just how far the right support can go. His parent told us, “He’s a completely different person from what he was a few years ago. He believes in himself”. Thank you to everyone involved, including Professor Barry Carpenter OBE, who has been instrumental in championing the Inquiry Project model within Outcomes First Group. We’re excited to continue sharing these insights across the group and beyond.
Now that the academic year has come to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of significant progress and impact across Outcomes First Group. This year, we were proud to support 5,673 remarkable children and young people - helping them to thrive in personalised, nurturing learning environments designed around their individual needs. This year also marked the launch of @Blenheim Schools, our new initiative in non-selective education, further expanding the range of pathways we offer to pupils who require specialist support. To meet increasing demand and help more children access the education they deserve, we’ve opened nine new schools, with four more set to open this September. None of this would be possible without the dedication and expertise of our incredible teams, from educators and clinicians to carers and support staff, who work tirelessly to change lives every day. ❤️ Thank you to every colleague, pupil and partner who has contributed to such a purposeful year. We look forward to building on this momentum as we enter a new academic chapter.
Outcomes First Group join parliamentary roundtable on SEND reform A huge thank you to Danny Beales MP for hosting our parliamentary roundtable on SEND reform - and to the 20+ MPs, parliamentary staff, and sector leaders who joined us to share their insight and commitment. It was an excellent and thought-provoking conversation. Together, we explored what it will take to build a more inclusive and sustainable SEND system, one that: Prioritises early intervention Eases pressure on families and local authorities Ensures every child gets the support they need to thrive We’re so grateful to everyone who brought their passion and expertise to the room. The appetite for meaningful reform is real - and we’re proud to be part of the movement driving it forward. This is just the beginning. We look forward to continuing the work, alongside those in the room and beyond, to help shape a future where every child and family can have confidence in the support they’ll receive.
World Wellbeing Week is a great opportunity to reflect on how we support ourselves and one another to live healthier, happier lives — both inside and outside of work. At Outcomes First Group, our commitment to wellbeing goes beyond just one week. We’re proud to be officially recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing – a reflection of the culture we’ve built to ensure every colleague feels seen, supported, and empowered. From small daily practices to long-term organisational change, wellbeing is embedded in everything we do. Our Employee Assistance Programme is one example – a free, confidential service available to employees and their families, offering: ✔️ Counselling and mental health support ✔️ Menopause guidance ✔️ Online wellbeing resources and podcasts And with initiatives like our reduced working hours, working 80% time for 100% pay, we continue to evolve how we support our people every single day of the year. Sound like a place where you can belong? Check out our careers website to find out more: https://careers.outcomesfirstgroup.co.uk/
Outcomes First Group supports sector with call for Ofsted reforms that reflect the reality of SEND education. At Outcomes First Group, we believe inspections should be rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges, progress and potential of every child. As Dr Rebecca Lawton writes in Children & Young People Now: “SEND schools require a more holistic, nuanced approach to inspections – one that recognises the unique challenges, strengths and diverse ways in which pupils progress.” We stand with the sector in calling for a more inclusive, evidence-informed approach to policy. Because progress isn’t always linear - and success can’t be measured by attendance and exam results alone. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/44clcsP
Outcomes First Group Champions Sustainability This Great Big Green Week During this year’s Great Big Green Week, we’ve been celebrating the incredible efforts of our teams who are driving real, measurable changes across our schools. From upgrading school facilities and tackling food waste to student-led green projects and planting hundreds of trees, our people are embedding sustainability into everything we do. Highlight from our journey so far include: Twelve of our schools achieving Green Mark Level 1 Certification, since our launch in Q1, with many more on the way. Upgrading our schools to be more energy and water efficient, with LED lighting, water saving flushes and high-efficiency boilers. Planting over 500 trees at our schools, thanks to the enthusiasm and teamwork of our schools. And that’s just the beginning. Across the Group, local teams are leading their own innovative projects – from growing vegetables and restoring ponds to installing water fountains that help pupils track how many plastic bottles they’re saving. These initiatives don’t just reduce our environmental impact, they inspire our pupils to make sustainable choices, discover new passions for horticulture, and explore green careers. We're proud of the positive difference our people are making every day — and excited for what’s next. Want to be part of it, check out Careers at OFG for your next role.
New Autism Unpacked Episode – Best of Series One We’re proud to launch a special compilation episode of the Autism Unpacked podcast – bringing together the most powerful, insightful, and heartfelt moments from Series One. This episode highlights the lived experiences of autistic individuals and the professionals who support them. It’s a celebration of voice, vulnerability, and real-life stories that inspire understanding and connection. Hear from a range of guests - including Tom Malone Jr, who spoke candidly about growing up without a diagnosis - and gain valuable insights into what it means to live with autism today. Whether you're an educator, clinician, parent, or advocate, or simply passionate about inclusion and neurodiversity, this episode is well worth a listen. Tune in here: https://bit.ly/3DAcXNq
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