Key Stage 4 Class Teacher

Larkrise School is a local education authority day school catering for children with SLD, PMLD and ASD aged 4 to 19. We have 80 pupils on roll.

Larkrise School admits pupils from a wide catchment area. This area extends from Trowbridge to Melksham, Devizes, Warminster, Westbury, Bradford-on-Avon and the outlying villages. Our pupils travel to and from school in minibuses. They enjoy these journeys and have good relationships with their drivers and passenger assistants.

We have recently completed an £420K building project where two additional classrooms have been built for our Sixth Form College and one further classroom for Key Stage 4.  Running alongside this building project we have converted a classroom into a Food Technology Room with 4 self sufficient kitchens.

In the summer of 2011 Capital projects supported refurbishment of an ASD and Early Years Classroom, including installation of suspended ceilings and bespoke lighting and refurbishment of adjoining Personal Hygiene facilities.

The school has a recently established a modern Library and Computer Suite, where there is provision for pupils to work either individually or in small groups.  We have a very exciting dedicated Sensory Room with the latest Sensory Technology installed in mid 2011.   Other rooms have been converted into Physiotherapy, Occupational Health and Music Room. 

The school has its own Hydrotherapy Pool which was opened in 1989 by HRH The Princess Royal. The area was extended in 1999 by the Federation of Master Builders, as part of their Millennium Project.

We have a new horticulture area within the school grounds. The Key Stage 5 students work here as part of their ASDAN Challenge, growing vegetables and herbs (from seeds) which they harvest for use in their Meal Preparation and Cooking module.

The wonderful children and young adults combined with the wide range of facilities at Larkrise, make it an interesting and challenging school in which to teach and learn. Every pupil is encouraged to develop their own particular skills using the facilities which best meet their needs.

Mission Statement

‘ACHIEVING TOGETHER’

Larkrise School provides a stimulating education in a supportive environment where pupils are challenged and every individual is valued.

Larkrise School Aims

• To provide a curriculum which meets the special educational needs of all pupils and which reflects their entitlement to the National Curriculum

• To develop pupils’ social and emotional skills, enabling them to enter into meaningful and fulfilling relationships with others

• To build a whole-school ethos which empowers pupils to express their independence

• To provide equal opportunities for all pupils to access a balanced, broadly based and relevant curriculum which reflects the pupils’ cultural diversity

• To respond to pupils’ individual learning styles through the use of a variety of teaching methods and resources 

• To provide a curriculum which includes developmental, experiential and therapeutic approaches

Vision:

Larkrise School recognises that all pupils are of equal worth and should be nurtured as individuals. The curriculum is adapted so that all pupils have opportunities to develop appropriately. A holistic approach to education is adopted to support the development of the child as a whole. Physical, mental, cognitive, social, moral and spiritual well-being is fostered in all pupils. Their achievements are celebrated and respected.

The rights and responsibilities of all groups are recognised, valued and supported. Everyone in the school considers that safety, security and happiness are paramount to an individual’s well-being. A moral code is promoted so that pupils are able to distinguish right from wrong irrespective of how others behave. Tolerance and understanding of individuals and diverse social groups is encouraged.

The adaptation of the school environment is managed so that pupils move from dependent learning to independence in wider settings. The future needs and skills of pupils are kept sight of so that their education is relevant today, tomorrow and in the future.

The school is realistic and optimistic about the futures of pupils. Educational priorities are set and these priorities are developed and shared with relevant stakeholders. The school believes that all pupils should be challenged through high expectations to achieve a standard they can be proud of. Upon leaving school all pupils should be ready to take an appropriate place in society, equipped to both contribute and benefit from life beyond school. To achieve this, the school actively promotes links with the community, in particular, giving pupils opportunities to work and socialise with peers from other schools.