Our school offer
Our aim is to provide pupils with a range of opportunities so that they can reach their full potential.
Redefining education
We redefine education by seamlessly integrating three essential pillars: education, therapy and futures. 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 and nurtures resilience, and futures are shaped with purpose and promise.
Education
We foster an excitement and a love of learning in our pupils by following the national curriculum. Our curriculum and tasks set are challenging yet achievable, enabling children and young people to grow in confidence and prepare for life beyond the classroom. We also provide enrichment activities through educational visits and field trips to support and enhance learning experiences.
With a backdrop of our small class sizes, with no more than nine pupils per class, each child and young person receives a bespoke curriculum tailored to their needs, which is fully integrated with our social development programme.
Our commitment to a well-rounded education includes a focus on social development. Through activities that promote collaboration, friendship, social interaction, and teamwork, pupils build essential interpersonal skills. These experiences help them develop communication, empathy, and the ability to work well with others. By developing friendships and a sense of community, children and young people learn to value diverse perspectives and support one another, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment that strengthens their social growth.
The results speak for themselves as young people leave us with nationally recognised outcomes at a level that is right for them, ranging from entry-level certificates to functional skills, BTECs and GCSEs. This equips them to confidently take their next steps into further education, apprenticeships or employment.
Our outstanding offer
We provide unique learning opportunities for our pupils to help them engage with learning so that they can develop skills and grow in confidence to become proud members of our school community.
The school’s vocational offer enhances the teaching and learning experience of our pupils studying at Key Stage 4, by providing opportunities that equips them with vocational skills for life. A wide range of courses and accreditations present experiences and opportunities that will assist them in life beyond school and in future employment.
The highly equipped areas are taught by teachers who have industry experience, allowing our pupils to gain real insights and resulting in them having high levels of confidence, independence and enthusiasm to succeed in their chosen next steps. The offer also allows for increased levels of positive engagement between pupils and staff, thus resulting in raising aspirations and career goals.
The vocational offer includes the following subjects:
- Car Mechanics
- Plastering
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Construction
- Hair and Beauty Salon
- Horticulture
Pupils at Key Stage 3 can enjoy taster sessions so that they too can start planning for their future careers.
To help engage our pupils with their learning and personal development, we strongly believe that they need to feel safe, cared for and accepted. To achieve this, the staff team work together to get to know each pupil and share their aspirations for them to help set achievable goals for their time at Hartwell School and beyond. This approach enables pupils to progress and reach milestones in their social and emotional development and go on to achieve a range of awards and qualifications. All this contributes to pupils looking forward to the next chapter of their lives with increased confidence as they have knowledge, skills and experiences.
This ethos of building strong relationships also extends to the parents and carers of our pupils, who we work in partnership with to deliver the desired outcomes for their child.
Pupils that are highly anxious are referred to the nurture group that help to support their social and emotional development. Our nurture class is a dedicated classroom supported by clinical, pastoral, teaching and support staff, who work to ensure that the right level of support is provided and goals are set to measure outcomes.
The specialised classroom is designed to support the needs of pupils and allow for opportunities to build trusting relationships with teachers and highly trained teaching assistants, who consistently work to develop social and communication skills, whilst also developing the resilience of our pupils so that they can progress and prepare for life beyond school.
The carefully structured setting steadily helps our pupils to transition to their classroom where they are able to engage with learning along with their peers
Elected pupils make up the Junior Leadership Team, who regularly meet to discuss ideas to develop teaching and learning.
The opportunity allows members to continually reflect on the school’s offer and explore ways to make teaching and learning more meaningful. This collaborative approach has contributed to the school establishing its own football team who have grown in skills and confidence. The Junior Leadership Team also shared their wishes for a pool table in the lounge area and along with their rationale, submitted the rules and regulations that should be in place resulting in one being ordered and now in full use.
The team also develop their social skills so that they confidently contribute to the wider community by entering conversations with the school’s Senior Leadership Team, where they discuss, negotiate and arrange topics to help improve the teaching and learning experience for everyone.
To gain an appreciation of the outdoors, pupils access outdoor education where they are given opportunities to explore new activities and the local area in a safe and supported way so that they recognise the range of opportunities that it offers.
Activities include:
- Climbing
- Walking
- Forestry
- Mountain biking
- Kayaking
During outdoor education sessions, pupils work together to complete tasks and develop a range of skills that are easily transferable into many aspects of their lives, including both the classroom and their home environment. Participating in new and exciting activities enables pupils to take calculated risks that empower them, resulting in increased confidence and intrigue for their next challenge. Working as part of a team has also helped pupils to develop and sustain relationships with peers and teachers so that they are able to work effectively and master new skills.
Outdoor education has also made pupils aware of environmental issues and more conscious about their actions and the importance of making informed choices.
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.
Hartwell 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 Hartwell 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.