OAK LODGE SCHOOL

That this House congratulates the Headteacher and staff of Oak Lodge School, East Finchley in the continuation of the provision of excellence in its education of secondary age pupils with special educational needs; notes that this special school provides education to 160 pupils from the London Borough of Barnet with a range of learning difficulties including autism and other specific disorders; notes in particular that the school has been ranked within the top five per cent. of maintained schools in England for value-added performance for the third consecutive year; further notes that 94 per cent. of pupils completing KS4 in 2006 achieved Entry Level qualifications, that 74 per cent. achieved at least one GCSE and that the school had the highest attendance rate for comparable special schools across London; urges Barnet Local Education Authority to continue the fine support for this school that it has provided over the last few years; and calls upon the Government to note that excellent progress is possible for pupils with learning disabilities in appropriate specialist provision.