Enrichment and LOTC

The school has regular visits from prominent members of the community, including the police and religious leaders, and students can visit different colleges and universities to experience life in Higher Education.

Learners are encouraged to get involved in the community, with a work experience placement being an essential part of the One to One programme. Several of the One-to-One students have chosen to work at charity shops or help elderly people with everyday chores such as supermarket shopping and gardening. This introduces learners to the world of work and increases their opportunities for gaining college or apprenticeship places or employment.

To boost our curriculum, we have some staff that dedicate themselves to inspiring our children and young people.  We offer:

• Outdoor active sessions, including, 1:1 karate/boxing, gym coaching, tennis, fishing, football, basketball, table tennis
• Therapeutic and creative sessions
• 1:1 guitar sessions (for the Evolve Pathway Post-14)

In our student kitchen, all of our pupils work on four-week units to improve their ability to function as a healthy, independent adult. 

Week 1) Learn about the country and cuisine

Week 2) Learn about the specific cooking skills needed for that dish and health and hygiene

Week 3) Get cooking!

Week 4) Advertise your dish in different ways

Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) is essential and an appreciation for and connection with the outdoors is vital. We are so proud of our WMES AWARD.  This is loosely based around the principles of the DofE Award and encourages students to develop skills to be able to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors when they are independent adults.

Another component of LOtC is not conducting all learning by reading text, listening to tutors and sitting at desks.  We are able to take out students out regularly to conduct their learning offsite due to our unique 1:1/ 1:2 provision.  It really helps mental wellbeing, too! 

There is so much to do within walking distance in our local area (see map) but we also take our students on the bus and train to go further.

Guest speakers and visitors are welcomed into the school such as the Police, Members of Parliament and Birmingham City Mission.  

We also want our students to know the value and importance of making a positive impact on the lives of other people.  We hold a Macmillan Coffee Morning event to raise money and awareness. We also collect for the Harvest Festival, giving donations to local food banks. 

Our students demand more than just the National Curriculum so we have introduced ‘Alt Studies’ on the Evolve and Futures (Post-14 and Post-16) pathways.  For half a term, they can study subjects such as:

• Sign language
• Driving theory
• Japanese
• Italian
• Animation