Press release
Heathlands School Achieves Exceptional Progress 8 Score, Leading Deaf Education Nationwide
“Hertfordshire, UK – January 20, 2025 – Heathlands School has been recognised as the highest-attaining school for deaf children in the UK, achieving an outstanding Progress 8 score of 0.93 for 2024. This achievement places Heathlands at the top of all deaf schools and specialist institutions, with the school ranked 107th nationally, across all UK schools.
Graded Outstanding by OFSTED, Heathlands serves Deaf children with a unique total communication approach that incorporates British Sign Language, spoken and written English, and tailored resources to support individual learning needs. The school’s curriculum adapts to ensure Deaf students thrive academically while developing English as a second language alongside their first language, British Sign Language.
Co-Headteachers Sarah Aitken and Lesley Reeves Costi said, “We are incredibly proud of our pupils, and the Progress 8 score validates the hard work of our staff, students, and their families. This success demonstrates the impact of teaching in Deaf students’ first language, British Sign Language.”
In addition to academic excellence, Heathlands emphasises the wellbeing and social development of its students, offering a range of extracurricular activities and fostering an inclusive learning environment. The school’s recent expansion, including a new sixth form and classroom block, enables even more students to benefit from its exceptional educational model.
About Heathlands School:
Heathlands School, based in Hertfordshire, has been at the forefront of Deaf education for nearly 50 years. The school offers a specialist approach to the National Curriculum that combines academic rigor with a strong emphasis on British Sign Language, providing Deaf students with the tools to succeed both academically and socially.”
