Woolton High School

Woolton High School is a secondary special school for learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. We aim to support our learners to achieve their potential through access to a broad and balanced, personalised curriculum with opportunities for meaningful progression in a range of academic and vocational areas.

At Woolton High, learners make meaningful progress in a safe, structured and caring environment and are enabled to build positive relationships with adults and peers alike. They are also encouraged to take responsibility for, and have ownership of their own personal development and behaviour so that they can become young people with the skills and attitudes required to become valued members of society.

In order to achieve these aims, we endeavour to create a learning environment that is positive, friendly and supportive of all learners. We work very closely with parents/carers and our multi-agency partners to ensure that their child’s education is a purposeful, productive and positive experience which helps to prepare them for their next stage of development.

Woolton High School is a specialist school, providing support and care for learners aged 11 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school offers extensive access to academic and vocational learning experiences and opportunities, with the aim of increasing independence, maintaining positive relationships, being healthy and safe.

It is our aim to ensure that all students are ‘Safe, happy, healthy and learning‘ and our young people have a sense of belonging through the shared values of ‘C.A.R.E.S’ (Commitment, Achievement, Respect, Enrichment and Safety) within their school community. We wish to enable young people to develop the confidence and skills they need for the next stage of their lives.

We offer ongoing support, learning and life skills development within a person-centred framework to maximise individual potential. Individual plans and programmes are adjusted as required to ensure that each individual is challenged to progress at speeds and levels that are appropriate for them. The desired outcome is for young people to gain increased levels of independence and live happy, meaningful and fulfilling lives.

The curriculum at Woolton High School is broad, balanced, challenging and engaging. It prepares students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences which they will encounter after leaving us whilst promoting spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development.

Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and is broadly divided into a Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10 & 11). In Years 7-9 all students follow a similar curriculum and are taught in mixed ability groups with teaching being differentiated to both support and challenge all students.

In Years 10 and 11 students follow both a core (English, maths, science etc) and a foundation curriculum of Media/ICT, PE and Business Studies. In keeping with our aim of preparing students for the world of work, all students follow a range of vocational courses as part of their curriculum offer. Additionally, some students attend registered Alternative Educational Placements and attend individual sessions for English and Maths.

Our curriculum offers a very clear pathway for progression and all courses from Year 10 onwards lead to a range of accreditations, Level 1 and Level 2 Qualifications such as GCSE, BTEC, Entry Level Certificate, Unit Awards and Functional Skills.

In line with national curriculum recommendations, our curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential skills and knowledge that they need to function effectively in society today.

The school curriculum is just one element in the education of every child. We also ensure that time is given to the holistic development of every learner to better understand their own needs, as well as the needs of others, to appreciate their own challenges and limitations whilst being conscious of the importance of team work, fair play and mutual respect across many elements of life in school and beyond.