Head Teacher

Jon Lisle

01271 372269

Our School

We opened the Barnstaple Centre in September 2015 and now we occupy two sites in Barnstaple. One is situated on the Whiddon Valley Industrial Estate and is designed for use by students who are on the autistic spectrum, students who live with high levels of social anxiety or who need a low-stimulation, highly private environment. Our other site is on the Roundswell estate and allows us to cater for students who are still developing their learning skills and who need high levels of flexibility, behavioural and appropriate social interaction inputs. Both sites have easy access to the town and to lots of businesses for work experience and social skill development opportunities.

Our facilities include small, quiet classrooms for 1:1 or small group work, a sensory Thrive room to support emotional regulation, two early years / messy play rooms, two kitchen classrooms, a Science room, a woodwork workshop and a mechanics workshop. Our outside areas are secure and are used for PE, outdoor art, plant care, construction and upcycling. We have a detached outbuilding which is used for music. We actively encourage learning outside the classroom environment, through our links with a local Exmoor working farm, a local horse-riding stable, a Thai boxing trainer, several fishing venues and the work we do with our students helping them learn how to interact appropriately in local shops, cafes and workplaces.

The Staff and Subject Specialisms

The team is made up of the Head of Centre, the Curriculum Manager, seven teachers (one of whom is our qualified Thrive Practitioner), a SENCO, thirteen education/intervention support workers and a school administrator. Our team has a variety of specific skills including a range of outdoor pursuits, a qualified gym instructor, and native speakers of modern foreign languages, to name but a few.

Our Curriculum

Our students each have a personalised curriculum designed specifically for them in conjunction with the student, their family and outside agencies. They study at a variety of levels from Early Years Foundation Stage to GCSE and beyond. We currently offer courses leading to GCSE English, Maths, Science, French, Spanish, Art and Textiles plus Level 2, Level 1 or Entry Level qualifications in English, Maths, ICT, Science, PE, Cooking, Personal and Social Development, Plant and Animal Care, Horsemanship, Music, Art and Photography, Textiles, Child Care, Woodwork, Car Maintenance, Preparing for Work and MFL.

We work in partnership with the local FE College to support students to access their Construction and Mechanics in order to work towards reintegration.

Every student has an individual Thrive programme and timetabled Thrive sessions to support their emotional and social development, which is tracked as our ‘Learning to Learn’ programme.

Key Features

• 1:1 or very small group teaching
• Personalised behaviour management and support for each individual student
• Outreach intervention and tuition services provided for other schools
• Partnership working with FE provider to ensure equality of access to appropriate courses
• Key Workers with a holistic view of each student
• Work Experience provision in KS4 and KS5 provision where appropriate
• Focus on pathways into work

Documents

• Complaints Policy.pdf
• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.pdf
• Whistleblowing Policy.pdf
• Behaviour Management Policy.pdf

Copies of all On Track policies including the Complaints Procedure can be obtained on request from Head Office or the School.