Prior's Court School

Word From The Head

Helen Franks

Prior’s Court is a registered charity providing education and residential care for autistic young people with complex needs, aged 5-25.

Set within a 50 acre site in Berkshire with a multitude of specialist facilities for autistic young people, Prior’s Court exists to transform the lives of the autistic young people with complex needs in our care; to help them achieve the impossible and give their families the magic moments they never thought they would have.

Now 25 years on from opening in 1999, the experience, vision and passion of our late Founding Patron, tech entrepreneur Dame Stephanie Shirley CH and her autistic son Giles, continues to profoundly influence what we do and why we do it.

Prior’s Court School has built a reputation for the quality and outcomes of our approach which has enabled young people, aged 5 to 20, to achieve significant progress towards a happy, healthy and more independent life, in which they can access the world of work. Prior’s Court School is recognised internationally as one of the foremost providers of autistic-specific education and care in the country, holding an Ofsted education “outstanding” ranking since 2017 and Ofsted care “good” or “outstanding” since 2010