Redefining education
We don't just educate; we nurture support and propel our pupils towards a future where their potential knows no bounds. Join us on a transformative journey, where education extends beyond textbooks, therapy nurtures resilience, and futures are shaped with purpose and promise.
Love of learning
At Abbeywood School, our bespoke curriculum allows us to deliver learning that is accessible, engaging, and packed with adventure and discovery through educational visits and field trips to support and enhance learning experiences.
Our commitment to a well-rounded education includes a focus on social development. Through enrichment activities that promote collaboration, friendship, social interaction, and teamwork, pupils build interpersonal skills, empowering them to navigate relationships, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and succeed in diverse environments. We take pride in focusing on friendships and a strong sense of community. By doing so, children and young people learn to appreciate diverse perspectives and support one another, contributing to a positive and inclusive learning environment.
Young people leave us with nationally recognised outcomes at a level that is right for them, ranging from entry-level certificates to functional skills awards, BTECs and GCSEs. This equips them to confidently take their next steps into further education, apprenticeships or employment.
Our outstanding offer
The on-site purpose built classrooms offer pupils the opportunity to develop skills and offers them a hands-on experience so that they are able to master new skills ready for the world of work.
Our aim is to provide pupils with an ever-growing variety of options so that they can explore different subjects, allowing them to experience new pathways in a simulated work environment. Subjects are taught by staff who have industry experience, which further enhances the quality and learning experience of the pupils.
Subject specific classrooms include:
- Hair and Beauty Salon
- Art Room
- Science Laboratory
- Food Technology
- Media Suite
The school follows a topic based curriculum which helps teaching and learning become more interesting, relevant and motivating. This approach enables pupils to make connections, transfer knowledge and build their understanding and confidence. This has ultimately resulted in continuity and comprehension of topics being more thorough, whilst pupils are able to apply critical thinking as they identify, categorise, compare and find themes.
The topic based curriculum facilitates the engagement of learning and allows for pupils to enjoy subjects that they previously did not. For example, the topic of Dream Big will see pupils exploring Martin Luther King’s speech in English, whilst in Art they create their own dream catchers. In history, pupils explore racism and how Native American Indians perceived dreams, whilst in Science they discover the galaxy and in Geography they plan their dream holiday destinations.
The topic based curriculum sparks conversations and provides pupils with the opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas and take ownership of their learning, resulting in the strong development of knowledge, skills and meaningful learning experiences.
We provide our pupils with opportunities to explore the local area in a safe and supported way so that they gain an appreciation of the outdoors and recognise the range of opportunities that it offers. The opportunity to broaden their horizons are presented in a variety of trips
For example, during one of many outdoor sessions pupils explore a local woodland area and build a shelter as a team. This requires them to communicate, familiarise themselves with their new surroundings and resourcefully use the natural environment surrounding them and the limited materials they bring with them. For lunch, they use skills learnt in Science to create a heat source and from Food Technology to cook sausages for everyone to enjoy. This camaraderie spills into the classroom environment and beyond, as their shared experiences provide foundations to build friendships.
To develop independent skills, pupils are given the chance to plan trips for their class and during the stages of planning they learn to negotiate with staff, present ideas to friends and understand the needs of individuals. The planning of trips also helps to reduce their anxieties due to their involvement throughout the entire process, which helps to build their confidence and assertiveness.
We actively encourage and embed a culture of positivity to provide pupils with a unique opportunity to reflect on their behaviours in a calm environment and openly discuss their thoughts and feelings with a chosen member of staff.
During circle time, pupils are given their chance to speak and take responsibility for their actions, discuss what happened, why they think it happened and move forward.
Positive reflection has had a positive impact as pupils learn to reflect on their behaviours and become more aware of their actions and the impact on others. Subsequently, they are able to develop and maintain friendships as well as self-regulate as a result of their reflection. Pupils grow to become independent and conscious about their actions, so that they can positively contribute to the school and the wider community.
We aim to provide children and young people with a portfolio of off site activities that will give them marketable skills in the workplace, laying the foundation for their future. The Abbeywood pledge is that each year pupils will build a portfolio of 30 off site activities such as music production, driving experiences and theatre visits.
Through these activities, students get the opportunity to experience the world and develop an array of skills that can help them transition into the world of work.
Therapy
Our on-site Clinical Team provide pupils with unrivalled levels of therapeutic support, in terms of the level of expertise, the ratio of qualified therapists and clinicians to children and young people, and the range of therapies offered. Pupils have the support of our Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and other specialists as required.
We believe that unless a child or young person is able to feel emotionally safe and secure, they are less likely to fulfil their personal, social and educational potential. Our unique approach to supporting young people through our Wave Model enables them to go on to realise a future filled with aspiration and achievement.
Abbeywood School's Clinical Team complete thorough and skilled assessments that support a shared understanding of the complex needs we see in our children and young people. This enables us to put purposeful and appropriate interventions in place and assess our effectiveness through the tracking of outcomes and impact.
Futures
At Abbeywood School we are dedicated to raising the aspirations of our pupils, while also equipping them with the skills and confidence to realise outstanding outcomes.
The Futures programme inspires and connects pupils with their next steps beyond education, utilising a growing network of over 350 employer partnerships, including the likes of Microsoft, Mercedes and John Lewis, to provide outstanding experiences of the workplace and ongoing opportunities and support.
Our Futures sessions provide practical guidance on job applications, confidence-building, networking, and workplace expectations, giving children and young people the tools to navigate their career paths with clarity. Complementing this, our Futures curriculum enriches academic growth while developing personal development and career readiness, ensuring they are prepared for their chosen paths. With no upper age limit on support, the programme boasts a 100% success rate in transitioning students into education, employment, or training.