About Us

We have three dedicated teaching areas, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Post 16. Each area has its own Leaning Director and staff team to ensure continuity for our students. Each of the three teaching areas is colour coded to enable the students to identify with their area and provide constancy in style and layout. The classrooms are equipped with Electronic White Boards and lap tops for students and are bright colourful environments in which to learn. Each area of learning has its own common room, library and quiet rooms where one to one sessions take place.

The Old House was refurbished several years ago and provides a grand entrance to the School. The School secretary and receptionist can be found just inside the door in the Oak Boardroom and are there to provide a warm welcome to students, parents and visitors on arrival.

In 2011 we had a new science laboratory installed providing good facilities for our GCSE and A level students. We also have a second science laboratory, a music-recording studio, food and nutrition suite, design technology room and a dance studio (where Diana Princess of Wales used to practise). There is a technology room and art block which is north facing giving consistently good light for drawing and painting. Adjacent is a graphic studio. In addition there are a number of small rooms for individual literacy and language and communication support.

At the centre of the School in the courtyard is a small castle known as HEART; this is our therapeutic centre. As each child arrives in the School they spend time in HEART, where we are able to gently assess their individual needs. We are fortunate enough to have a team of experts in HEART including a Speech and Language Therapist, Cognitive Behavioural therapist, Play Therapist, Counsellors and much more.

The school hall, also recently refurbished with air conditioning, has good stage lighting and sound systems; this is where we meet for whole school assemblies, special celebrations, performing arts performances and concerts. The performing arts studio also has good stage lighting and sound systems. The Ruth Rudge Sports Centre features a large, modern, four badminton court sports hall and an indoor heated swimming pool. Outside there are sports pitches and hard tennis courts.

The school has a suite of dining rooms, the main area being the Oak dining room, in which staff and students enjoy lunch together. School lunches are popular and highly acclaimed and are provided at no additional cost. All taste and dietary requirements are catered for.

Our boarding accommodation comprises of five colt bungalows and two houses for semi independent living for our older students. The Colts have individual bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen-dining room. Senior students live in a specially converted semi-detached house in the grounds, where life skills such as cooking and managing a budget are learnt.

Our students board with us from Monday to Friday, retuning home at weekends and holidays.

Foster Care

A new venture for us for 2011/12 is our foster care partnership. We, in conjunction with Fostering Outcomes, will be able to provide 365 care and an education package for young people ranging from 11-19.

We welcome you into our School family and promise that here you will be accepted, and that you will find inner peace in an environment that will suport you to achieve your full potential.