Cloughwood Academy - What is it like to be a pupil at Cloughwood Academy

My School, My Family

Our school is a safe and kind place where I know I belong. The staff are a great team, always ready to say hello and help me. We don't just feel like a school; we feel like one big family!

Starting the Day Warmly

Staff are waiting to give me a warm hello and see how I am feeling.
They treat me nicely every single day. If yesterday was tricky, today is a brand-new start.
When I arrive, I hand over my phone and any personal things to staff. They are kept safe until home time.
If I forget my uniform, the school always has a spare one for me. They can even wash my uniform!
Everyone gets a hot breakfast! There are important jobs in the morning, like helping to hand out the toast or porridge.
If I need medication, the staff will help me take it safely.
If I need it, I get time and a safe space to feel calm and ready to learn before my first lesson.

Help and Routines for Security

There is always someone to talk to about any problem I might have.
The Safeguarding Lead and Team are there for me and ready to listen if I need to talk about something serious.
We have regular routines like “hands up for quiet,” “values plenaries,” and a “mindful minute,” which makes me feel secure because I know what's happening next.
We have the Cloughwood Way which explains all about what is expected of us and what we can expect from adults working with us.
If there are going to be any changes to my day, the school tells me lots of times because they know me so well!
We all have a safety plan to keep us and everyone else safe.
We understand that everyone is a bit different and needs different kinds of help, and that’s okay.
There is always someone to talk to. If bullying happens, the staff will stop it from happening.

Fun Learning & Big Dreams

Our teachers love what they teach! They encourage us to dream big and think about our future. We learn that school is all about getting ready for when we are adults and start working.
We love doing things with our hands! We get to learn job skills, do vocational lessons, and amazing things like Forest School and Grow.
It's safe to make mistakes here because the teachers make learning feel safe, so we challenge ourselves in lessons.
Teachers tell us when we have done well with quick feedback and a points system that matches our school values.
If a lesson gets too tricky or noisy, I can take a time out break. There is always a Trusted Adult to talk to who will help me feel better and get back to learning.

Lots of New Adventures

We get to do cool things we never did before, like going on trips, learning outside, and exploring.
Before, I might have felt lonely, but here, we play together, eat together, learn together, and go on trips together.
Older children help younger children by being mentors, sports leaders, and reading buddies. We help each other and learn to be responsible and respectful.
There are fun things to do during playtime, like reading, computers and sport!
We learn about being kind to everyone and understanding different cultures.
We get the opportunity to enter competitions like the Chess Tournament, Cloughwood Bake Off and Interform Sports. I have learnt to win and lose properly.

Good Food for Healthy Living

The kitchen provides a wide selection of fruit for break time.
We learn about food from different countries and get to try new things – I eat lots more foods than I used to!
We learn about eating healthy food and why it is important.
We even help make the food and serve it in the kitchen!
The staff are very careful about food allergies so that everyone stays safe.

Our Futures Matter

We do lots of preparation, work and thinking about our future, so that we know what we are working towards and how to achieve our dreams.
Cloughwood Evolution – We know the skills and qualities we need to develop to be successful adults.
Work experience – We get the opportunity to have a job in school and when we are older we can choose to do work experience with real businesses.