Message from Archers Brook

Thank you for your interest in finding out more about Archers Brook a 9 to 16 year old special school for pupils with social, emotional, mental health needs. Our school is consistently over commissioned our maximum pupil number, presenting challenges to class sizes and maintaining the type of learning environment our neurodivergent pupils best succeed in but our expectations are always very high for behaviour, achievement and personal development.

We have a well-designed and considered curriculum that extends opportunities towards excellence for all, through 3 clear pathways and across the 24 hours, regulating and supporting the pupils in their learning journey at every step of the way. With this in mind, we recognise that for many of our children the journey of education so far has been far from easy, which is why we think creatively about our approach to learning. We know each child well enough to be able to set ambitious, realistic targets and put in place a personalised regulation and education plan and support that is right for them. The academic offer sits alongside a well-established offer of additional support such as access to our Nurture Base, Play Therapist, Holistic Therapist, Counsellors, Forest School and Outdoor pursuits curriculum as we understand all too well that our learners gain best in their development when we teach to the whole child.

Pupils enjoy their time in school and are positively engaged thanks to the specialised skills of their staff who are actively curating their day adopting trauma informed practises alongside evidence-based strategies to best support SEMH learners. Without this daily and on-going pre-learning work our setting would be a very different experience.

We love nothing more than celebrating the achievements of our young people, which are many from their KS4 exam results to winning national competitions and undertaking The Duke of Edinburgh Award and we take time to acknowledge the progress they make. We are delighted that our pupils feel confident to leave us after Year 11 to go on to further education, with most returning to mainstream education pathways having exceeded their own expectations experiencing Level 5 pathways and with some alumni studying for a degree in recent years.

Due to this relentless drive of all staff to provide a safe, joyful and inspiring environment, pupils gain the skills that they require to leave Archers Brook School as well-rounded individuals who are equipped with the skills for life post 16.

S J Myers-Whittaker, Headteacher