Young People’s Academy is a secondary special school for students with social, emotional, and mental health needs. We recognize that the majority of our students thrive via a varied curriculum that is practical-based and introduces students to and enhances their experiences via an enrichment program.
We understand that many of our students arrive at Young People’s Academy having had very difficult experiences of school in the past. With the skill and dedication of our staff, we aim to reconnect them with education so they can make progress to becoming successful adults via a reflective approach. Reflection and restorative practice, as opposed to detentions and exclusions, is used to help students understand what is currently happening, what they are trying and using well, and how they can move forward.
Young People’s Academy is determined that students will leave with academic outcomes that reflect the best of their abilities, able to sustain relationships and employment, and maintain healthy households.
We aim for our young people to lead a happy and holistically prosperous life by developing the skills for them to move successfully along their life journeys. This includes academic outcomes that reflect the best of their abilities, being able to sustain relationships and employment, and maintaining healthy households.
Young People’s Academy follows a reflective and restorative approach with students, as opposed to for or to them. This allows staff and students to work collaboratively in a solution-focused thinking manner.
Our aims are:
- To work with our students to build confidence in their abilities to succeed at school and as adults.
- To teach our students to keep themselves healthy and safe.
- To help our students to learn to understand and manage their feelings.
- To provide help for parents and carers to support and nurture their children.
- To support schools across the borough where pupils are experiencing behavioral, emotional, or social difficulties.
The Young People’s Academy is committed to creating an inclusive environment, where people are treated with dignity and respect and where we anticipate and respond positively to different needs and circumstances so that everyone can achieve their potential.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity, not only because it is an important part of the mission, vision, and values of the Academy, but also because by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff, and partners, we will ensure the Academy’s future success.
We believe that everyone has the right to be treated fairly and without discrimination, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, circumstances, or background.
Young People’s Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We ensure that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures and policies are in place to support pupils and staff at school. If a pupil or parent has a concern they should contact the school immediately.
The Young People’s Academy wishes to communicate effectively with our parents, students, and the wider community. However, we accept that we can on occasion make mistakes or fail to communicate as well as we would wish.
The Young People’s Academy is committed to dealing with complaints promptly, fairly, and carefully. We encourage parents, carers, and other members of the school community to raise (on an informal basis) any concerns they have at the earliest opportunity. In most instances, this will involve speaking directly with the member of staff concerned, who will try to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
