We use cookies to track visits to our website, via google analytics
More about cookies

Learning Support

Our SENDCO, Ms Holmes leads the Learning Support Department, which consists of a team of dedicated staff, committed to meeting pupils' individual needs.

The department’s specialist qualified teachers, work closely with our teaching assistants, who in turn work alongside mainstream teachers to ensure the needs of all our pupils are met fully.

We have a whole school approach and work closely with all teaching staff, understanding that every teacher delivers high quality teaching to ALL pupils including those with SEND.

Our main aim is to ensure that all pupils who experience learning difficulties, for whatever reason, receive their entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Support is assigned based on individual needs. Pupils are tested for functional literacy and numeracy skills when they enter the school and subsequently monitored and tracked yearly. With the aid of specialist teachers and teaching assistants, appropriate interventions and support may be implemented. These can include:

• appropriate strategies implemented on the classroom
• teaching assistant support in lessons
• additional interventions outside the classroom
• modified curriculum
• the provision of special equipment such as laptops, visual aids, physical aids
• a variety of supported activities at lunch-time
• computer-assisted learning using literacy acceleration programs
• assessment for special arrangements for GCSE and internal exams

Every effort is made to involve the pupils and their parents in the process so that pupils with learning difficulties reach their full potential.


"Leaders ensure that the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified swiftly and accurately. Leaders have provided teachers with a variety of strategies to help this group of pupils to access the full curriculum. Teachers have valued this training. They are skilled at supporting pupils with SEND in lessons."

OFSTED 2022


“Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve well. Leadership of the special educational needs department is a real strength of the school. Leaders within the department know the pupils very well and support for pupils is sharply matched to pupils’ needs. Teaching assistants are valued highly and systems for their performance management are robust. Teachers use information in the excellent ‘pupil passports’ to ensure that all pupils are well catered for in lessons”.

OFSTED 2016


You can download copies of our SEN Information here: SEND Policy and Information Report


Support for our students also extends into our outstanding Sixth Form centre. We have specialist support in place for students who are ready for A-levels but require some additional help and we have our Foundation Pathways programme for those students who, whilst not necessarily ready for A-level study, still require a positive and well-supported environment in which to develop academically. To learn more about Foundation Pathways, please click here.