Joseph Clarke School

used to be one of the best schools in country for the visually impaired . But now is a place of sadness . Completely failed my visually impaired daughter . She started in year 7 on the basis it specifically educated visually impaired children . But once Whitefields Academy were involved it became a place where the visually impaired children were no longer the focus . They were put in classes with very autistic children who often disrupted the class and on occasions threw items , for example, laptops . My daughter was physically attacked by another student . I don’t believe any kind of health and safety assessment has been done to ensure children who cannot see are not mixed with student who can cause harm . Think about how a blind child would be able to protect themselves against harm . Staff struggle to control some children already and yet are expected to keep other safe . He education declined but since leaving she has flourished . She has since stated “ it was like torture “ and that she hated her last years . Most staff are lovely but are now at the mercy of Whitfield's Academy control . And are limited by them . If I could go back I would have left my daughter in mainstream with support . Least she would not have been so lonely