Weekly Bulletin Autumn Term 2024
Weekly Bulletin 2nd December 2024
It has been an unusual couple of weeks at Southbrook. Here are a few of the updates.
Snow days: It was surprising how quickly the snow settled in Exeter the week before last. We made the decision to close for two days based on the need to ensure both pupils and staff remained safe and did not travel in hazardous conditions. Of course, by the time the snow settled on the Thursday, and it became clear that the school would not be open, there were a number of pupils already on their way. We are very grateful to you, as parents and carers, for being so supportive of this decision and for changing your plans so rapidly. Friday continued to be very cold, with patchy areas of ice on the roads. We made the decision on Thursday evening to give as much notice as possible to transport services and yourselves. While these situations are never easy, thank you for all you did over those two days.
Ofsted: Last week we were visited by Ofsted, who came to conduct an inspection. They informed us on Monday 25th and were in school for Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th. During their visit they looked at every aspect of the school including safeguarding, attendance, personal development, outdoor education, therapies and inclusion, curriculum and assessment to mention a few. They also went into lessons, looked at pupils’ work and spoke with the pupils, staff and governors. Many of you completed the questionnaire and I wanted to thank you for your supportive comments and for giving your feedback. The inspection report will now be written and should be published in a few weeks.
DT: KS3 have been making some lovely felt creations in DT, making their own patterns and templates and then using these to try sewing and other joining techniques. They were very keen to show off their designs, which allowed their creativity to run wild. It was also very nice to pop into the KS3 static cooking session, where pupils were making a healthy meal of cottage pie, packed with protein and vegetables. It smelled delicious and the pupils were keen to take their food home to share.
Art: There have been some wonderful creations coming out of the art room in the last couple of weeks. Some beautiful landscapes are on display but there has also been a very strong link made to key vocabulary. It was great to see key language being explored through objects, textures, symbols, vocabulary board and opportunities for speaking and listening. The strength of this work allowed the pupils to be more aware of their achievements while creating their art.
School play rehearsals: You should have received an invite to the performance of A Christmas Carol, due to take place on 17th December. Unfortunately we are very limited for space during the performances and at present, there is a limit of 2 family members per pupil. If we find we have more spaces available after the responses are received, we will of course, let you know. .
Christmas week: As you know, the following events will take place during the last week.
17th December: School performance of A Christmas Carol, once in the morning and once in the afternoon in the school hall.
18th December: Christmas Lunch
19th December: Christmas Fair- You will receive information about this very soon.
20th Last day of the Autumn Term
As always, if you have any questions or queries, please do get in touch with your child’s tutor in the first instance.
Simon Winward
Weekly Bulletin 18th November 2024
Parents’ Evening: Thank you to all of the parents and carers who attended the parents evening for KS4 on Thursday evening. It was wonderful to talk to you. If you missed it or were not available to attend, please get in touch with your child’s tutor and they will arrange to give you a call for an update on how your child is doing at school.
Outdoor Education: Years 10 and 11 have enjoyed a wide range of activities during their outdoor education lessons last week. It was wonderful to see KS4 pupils try out the enormous climbing wall that led to the power-fan last week. As I have mentioned before, it is great to see them so keen to try new experiences and grow in confidence each week. Also last week, groups of year 11 pupils explored the local area, navigating and orienteering, learning about their local community as well as essential skills linked to their Duke of Edinburgh. Other KS4 pupils were able to go canoeing and paddleboarding with Haven Banks. Well done to all of the pupils who pushed themselves each week.
Champions for Change Transport Forum: Three of our pupils were able to attend a meeting at Devon County Hall last week to express their views to representatives from the transport teams. As you are aware, pupil voice is a valuable part of what we do at Southbrook, and we are always looking for opportunities to allow their voices to be heard beyond the school gates. Last week, our representatives took their ideas about transport to Devon County Hall and shared their thoughts, opinions and suggestions for improvements with regard to all forms of transport issues. They even managed to secure a return visit to Southbrook to continue their work in school. Well done, Champions.
Dawlish Garden Trust: Last week, visits to Dawlish Garden Trust started again as part of our new vocational offer, this time with a focus on vehicle maintenance and all things mechanical. As you can imagine, this was very motivating and an experience that some of the pupils were keen to talk about when they got back. Two groups of KS4 pupils were able to explore various vehicles inside and out and are looking forward to a return visit next week.
Apple pressing: As part of forest school sessions, pupils have been able to use an apple press to squeeze their own apple juice over the last two weeks. They have been learning about the equipment and the process and trying the produce. They were very pleased to share their hard work as well as the apple juice, which was full of flavour and quite different from shop-bought juice. It was a lovely experience, and it was really nice to see the pupils’ high levels of interest and engagement.
Performance rehearsals: The upcoming performance of A Christmas Carol will be held on 17th December and invites will be going out to parents and carers shortly. Therefore, rehearsals have started in earnest. Last week it was a pleasure to see the confidence and commitment many of the pupils have for performing. There will be more rehearsals over the coming weeks, and we look forward to sharing this with you in December.
Art: KS3 have been exploring landscapes last week. They have looked at colours and textures and went on to explore a wide range of media and materials as they created their own landscape pictures. In one lesson, pupils were using oil pastels, posca pens, ink and rollers, and printing techniques, all combined to create vibrant and interesting works of art. Well done KS3. .
Year 10 reviews: These will start this week. We look forward to welcoming you into school for these.
November seems to be disappearing fast! Just a reminder that Friday 29th November is a non-pupil day so school will be closed on this day.
Simon Winward
Weekly Bulletin 11th November 2024
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful half term break. At the end of our first week back, here are a few updates and highlights.
New breaktime club: Starting a new club is always exciting, and it was wonderful to see such a good turn out to the first two sessions of the new breaktime club, aimed at developing social and play skills alongside our wonderful play leaders. It is great that the school council have taken ownership of this, developed the club and contributed towards the equipment and games. Pupils came from across the school to try the new activities, and really enjoyed it. Thank you Mrs Gezink and all the staff who supported this last week. I am looking forward to seeing what other games appear as the club evolves!
Outdoor Education: 10TL went caving last week led by our new Outdoor Education teacher, Mr McEvoy. The change in this group after just half a term of Outdoor Education has been extraordinary. The pupils are pushing themselves, trying new experiences, overcoming worries and challenges, working together and supporting each other, and developing their confidence. LG class went weaselling on Dartmoor and had a blast. They scrambled up the tor, squeezed through little gaps in the rocks and climbed up other gaps to the top of the tor. Everyone worked very hard and their efforts were rewarded with a hot chocolate at the end of the session.
Exeter Airport: Following the success of the communication intervention that took place at Exeter Airport before half term, a brand new group has now begun their work at Exeter Airport. They went on their first session and are already finding it very motivating. In their first trip, they were shown around the airport and took up positions on the checking-in desks.
OT provision: We are changing the way we operate our OT provision this half term.
To enable us to reach more pupils over a half term, and develop a good range of skills, the OT intervention will take the form of a round-robin of activities that develop fine motor skills and essential life-skills. This will take place on Thursday afternoons until Christmas.
Library intervention: Our pupils were invited to St Thomas library last week, and will continue to visit as part of their SMILE therapy sessions. As well as developing communication skills within this context, they also enjoyed reading and choosing books.
Grant for Jubilee Challenge: We were pleased to hear this week that the school has been successful in a Grant application for some boots and kit to support our record Jubilee Challenge entry. The school have been awarded nearly £1800 with the aim being that each of the pupils have their own boots and rain jacket to wear for the training, the event in May and to keep afterwards. The money was donated by the Dartmoor Preservation Association and has been focused towards our Pupil Premium pupils who have been selected for the event in May. Training for the event will begin later this term and pupils will be involved in selecting their kit in the coming week.
KS4 Parents’ Evening: this will take place on Thursday 14th November. It starts at 3.30pm, last entry is at 6.45pm and finishing at 7.30pm. If you are a KS3 parent or carer, and missed your allocated parents’ evening and would like to attend on 14th November, please get in touch with Matt Day at mday@southbrook.devon.sch.uk
Many thanks
Simon Winward
Weekly Bulletin 28th October 2024
Wear pink for Breast Cancer Now: We have now counted up the funds donated to Breast Cancer Now and I am pleased to say that we have raised nearly £300 for this worthy charity. In addition to a fun-packed day, there was an art competition that has resulted in a lovely display. Thank you to everyone who donated to this charity. .
Community Café: The community café group attended their final session last week. They have spent a number of weeks developing some very positive relationships with the people they encountered, and were rewarded with individual ‘thank you’ cards. It is clear they have used their communication skills and developing confidence levels to have a positive impact on others. Well done to the therapy team and the pupils involved.
Outdoor Education: Last week, some KS4 pupils were able to access the climbing wall again. Revisiting an activity they have done before has meant that some pushed themselves further, while others were now confident enough to try some different climbs. Another group went out on the water, taking part in rafting, working together to create and then ride on the river. It is always lovely to hear how much the pupils enjoy these activities, and to see the impact of these on their self-esteem, social and communication skills.
Space Dome: Years 7, 8 and 9 had a surprise last week when they discovered the school hall filled with a space dome. Each of these year groups were able to access the dome, and by all accounts, were exemplary in their engagement with the activity. Simon, from Space Odyssey, was very impressed with our pupils, their behaviour and their attitudes. It is always lovely to hear this kind of feedback.
Transition Event: Thank you to everyone who came to the Transition Event last week. This event had more exhibitors than any of the previous ones, with mainstream and specialist colleges, CSW and Devon County departments attending. It was lovely to see so many of you there and it was great to see a mix of years 9, 10 and 11 pupils attending. We hope it was useful and informative.
PSHE: In the last few weeks, years 7 and 8 have been focusing on learning about friendships and developing social skills. Both groups have been practising how to have conversations, including making eye contact and asking questions to show interest in the topic being spoken about.
Year 11 have impressed us with their understanding of basic first aid, with all of the pupils showing a good understanding of how to correctly position someone in the recovery position.
Dartmoor intervention: At the end of term, we took a group of Year 11 pupils to Dartmoor to begin their training for the Jubilee Challenge and to reflect on a very positive last 8 weeks. All the pupils overcame the conditions and terrain and enjoyed the day, ably supported by their accompanying staff.
New library books: It is great to hear that 100 new books have been added to the library: New titles include Minecraft, Lego-build books, animals, Star Wars, Holly Webb's animal stories, graphic novels and many more that the pupils have requested.
Mr McEvoy: After half term we will be joined by Mr McEvoy, our new Outdoor Education teacher. He will be leading our forest school lessons as well as some of the Outdoor Education sessions. We look forward to working with him.
Parents evening: Out next parents’ evening will take place for KS4 on 14th November. If you missed the KS3 one, or were unable to attend, you are more than welcome to join the KS4 one. KS3 parents and carers wishing to attend the KS4 parents’ evening should email Mr Day at mday@southbrook.devon.sch.uk to book a place. KS4 parents and carers will have been sent a link to book a slot.
We hope you have a wonderful half term, and we look forward to welcoming your child back on 4th November.
Simon Winward
Weekly Bulletin 21st October 2024
It has been another busy week at Southbrook. Here are some of the highlights...
Parents’ evening: Thank you to everyone who came to the KS3 parents’ evening on Thursday. It was lovely to meet so many of you and I hope you found it beneficial. If you missed it, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your child’s tutor for an update on their progress. Thank you also to everyone who completed the questionnaire- your feedback is really important to us. KS4 Parents’ Evening will take place on 14th November.
Wear pink for Breast Cancer Now: It was wonderful to see so many pupils wearing pink on Friday in support of the Breast Cancer Now charity. It was great see the education about breast cancer and the importance of self-checking going alongside the fundraising and interesting activities. Thank you very much to Zoe, who spearheaded the event alongside other committed and hardworking staff. To show their support, Governors contributed to the cause and wore pink attire during the Full Governing Board meeting. In catering lessons, cake pops and fairy cakes were produced. These were very popular and sold out in seconds. Thank you to everyone who made a donation in cash or through School Gateway. We will have an update on the total raised very soon.
Year 7 Farm Trip: Two farm trips took place last week, with year 7 visiting Shillingford Farm School. This is always an exciting trip, and for most, their first time offsite with Southbrook. The pupils had a wonderful time taking part in harvesting, apple pressing and gaining experience of working on a farm. It was clear that they had a great time and were keen to share what they had learned when they got back to school.
Airport Communication Group: Over the last few weeks, an intervention group has been visiting Exeter Airport. The primary purpose is to develop communication skills and apply speech and language work within a motivating context. The pupils involved have found this extremely motivating, the impact of which has been seen in their communication skills. Last week they were in the flight control centre!
Outdoor Education: LG class had a great time on the rafted canoes. They worked hard in teams to win various races, games and challenges with many showing their increased stamina and rowing skills while others demonstrated good communication and leadership skills.
LG loved this activity and worked hard in teams to win various races, games and challenges!
FGB: The Full Governing Board meeting took place on Thursday 17th October, where a review of last year took place, as well as an update on what has taken place so far this term, and what is planned for the near future.
Vocational work at Dawlish Garden Trust: In the final week of their visits to DGT, this year 10 group were tasked with preparing a safe, secure and quiet hutch for the guinea pigs to give birth in. They took this very seriously, spending time scrubbing and mopping-out before laying straw and ensuring there was food and water available. They then gently placed them in their new home. The rest of the time was spent tending to the rest of the animals as well as some vegetable harvesting.
Year 11 finished off the pony exercise track. As we have said before, the pupils have been role models in terms of their manners and behaviour while at DGT, and this was no exception when our pupils’ encountered clients with more severe needs, showing them kindness and respect.
We are very proud of our young people.
Science: Y7 pupils have spent the last half term learning about staying safe in the Science lab. This has included learning rules, investigating hazard symbols and working with Bunsen burners!
Both Mrs Shanahan and Mr Elphick have been impressed with their work ethic and have seen a massive improvement in their abilities to focus, listen and follow instructions.
Mr Elphick has led two very important practical sessions with the pupils, developing key skills for their science learning across Y7-Y11. One of these involved learning how to use a Bunsen burner safely and the other was centred around developing measuring skills using a range of equipment, including small beakers, measuring cylinders and pipettes. The focus and concentration on their faces was clear to see!
A fantastic start to their Science learning at Southbrook.
Lastly, we have been asked to share the following information with parents and carers on behalf of Mill Water School, who are looking to create a supportive, family hub on their site in Exeter. Please see the information below and complete the survey if this is something that may be if use to you.
'SEND Family Hub - we need your views!
At Mill Water School we are hoping to create a new family hub for young people with SEND and their families to use during school holidays and at weekends. We know that families affected by SEND can sometimes feel isolated, so we want to create a space where young people with SEND, and their families can come together to make connections and develop networks of support. We also want to open up the facilities in our school grounds for families to use when the school is closed, including our play areas, orchard, PE equipment, and bike track. More information about Mill Water can be found below.
We are looking for the views of parents/carers across the local area. Please take a moment to complete this survey. Every response will help us understand what local families would want to see from a hub and help us secure the necessary funding.
https://www.millwater.devon.sch.uk/web/family_hub_consultation
If you have any questions about the project, please contact Amelia Tollerton at fundraising@millwater.devon.sch.uk
There is one more week before the half term break and I expect it will be a busy one!
Simon Winward
Weekly Bulletin 14th October 2024
Hello parents and carers,
I hope you are keeping well. Here are a few updates on some of the things that took place last week, and some events that will take place before half term.
Devon Wildlife Trust: We had a brilliant visit from Devon Wildlife Trust, during which, some of our year 11 pupils worked near the forest school area to identify the leaves, make their own paper and print using the leaves they had found. They worked extremely hard on this project, immersing themselves in nature and exploring the techniques of printing and paper making. The results were beautiful and delicate, and the pupils were extremely proud. Next week, a group of year 10 pupil will walk down to Northbrook Park to continue some of this work. Well done to all involved.
School Council: I had the pleasure of meeting with the school council last week, who had come up with a list of things that they wanted to discuss. It was wonderful to see that they want to play a proactive role in the organisation of the school and feel strongly about some new initiatives as well as improving other aspects of the school. Some key actions came out this meeting. They had suggestions for clubs they would like to go to. They also want to contribute towards the ‘small playground club’ that will be starting soon, which will include contributing some resources and volunteering as play leaders. School animals was also discussed, and this is something we are actively progressing at the moment, following the success of animal care at Dawlish Garden Trust and the joy that is experienced when Bobbie (the therapy dog) visits.
Conversation chess mentoring group: Following the success of the Conversation Chess groups, and seeing the impact this has had on confidence as well as communication skills, some of the older participants have now gone on to support younger pupils to engage. Year 10 pupils were very supportive of year 7's last week, playing chess and encouraging communication. Well done year 10 for being such good role models.
Vocational Learning: As the block of visits to Dawlish Garden Trust continues, it is clear that the level of engagement and participation is growing each week. Year 10 were able to carry out the given tasks with greater independence. Even when the rain put a stop to some of the more practical tasks, they were able to show what they had learned relating to animal care.
Year 11 were split into two groups last week. One group was tasked with making an exercise area for the ponies which involved setting up a fence and digging trenches for log jumps. They learned about electric fences, conductors and insulators and the practical application of this knowledge.
The second group were tasked with building a small pen and rounding up the sheep. The ewes then had their hooves cleaned and trimmed.
Life Skills: Years 7 and 8 have been looking at plastic pollution and how this affects our school. After exploring the concept, they had a look around our school and were amazed at how much plastic and litter found its way onto the playground. They have now decided to develop a litter-picking campaign, continuing the work started by one of our pupils last year.
Year 11 reviews: The first round of reviews are now coming to an end. Thank you to all parents and carers who attended these.
Upcoming Events:
KS3 parents’ evening will take place next week, Thursday 17th October, from 3.45pm until 6.45pm. KS4 parents’ evening will take place on Thursday 14th November. KS4 parents and carers will receive information about this shortly. If you require more information, please contact Matt Day, Deputy Head.
Wednesday 23rd October- Transition Fayre, 5pm -7pm. This is open to all parents and carers, and pupils in years 9, 10 and 11. Please drop in at any time for opportunities to speak to professionals from a range of colleges and specialist Post 16 provisions. For more information, please contact Charlotte Ewart, Preparation for Adulthood Lead.
I hope you have a lovely week.
Simon Winward
Weekly Bulletin 7th October 2024
English: It is always nice to see how quickly year 7 settle in, and it is even better when they are keen to show off their hard work. Last week year 7 had been engaging with a high-quality text, sequencing the events, exploring the narrative and retelling them in their own writing. They were extremely proud of the work they had achieved, and the writing they had produced, and it was wonderful to celebrate their success with them.
Therapy Trips: Last week saw a range of off-site visits that provide engaging opportunities for groups of pupils to apply what they have been learning in their speech and language, and communication interventions. These interventions, that take place in the local community, provide an invaluable way for our pupils to experience real-life and functional communication. The benefits are already being seen, in pupils’ interactions with the public, confidence levels and clarity of speech. Well done to all of the pupils involved.
Dawlish Garden Trust: The year 10s have been engaging very well with the new vocational experiences that Dawlish Garden Trust has to offer. While learning about animal care, they learnt about red mites, and what is needed to prevent the spread of these parasites. As such, all sheds needed to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and bedding burnt. They were diligent in their work, having already built a bond with the animals there.
Year 11 had a fun task to start the day. They had to round up the chickens and try to catch them to put them in the pen. Next, they were able to clip the wings so that the chickens won’t be able to fly over the fence and escape. It is wonderful to hear that they were trusted with this responsibility, and listened well to instructions so they could do this safely.
Outdoor Ed: Adventurous activities, alongside Duke of Edinburgh, continues to provide our pupils with valuable skills and a boost to self-esteem each week. Last week, the pupils took part in climbing activities, supporting and encouraging each other, and pushing themselves to achieve their individual goals. LG class pupils had a go at caving as well as archery. The inside cave was a new experience for a few but all of them persevered, each managing to complete a new cave by the end of the session.
Creative Arts: Year 9 pupils have been exploring the fictional mystery story of haunted Darkwood Manor in drama. Pupils have been creating their own plot points and twists to the story. They have been developing the use of various drama techniques such as teacher-in-role, still image, freeze frames, and role-play. They are developing characters and relationships to allow for engaging performances. Currently, pupils are setting up police interviews to role-play questioning of key witnesses surrounding evidence discovered at Darkwood Manor. Pupils are enhancing their confidence to play authoritative roles and negotiate and were able to work independently and cooperatively during the learning sessions.
Static and Year 8 Pupils have been delving into Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ through role-play, bringing the characters and key plot points to life. They have been using script extracts to understand the story and explore relationships between characters. Pupils have been enhancing their communication skills and ability to work cooperatively together as a team. Wonderful work from everyone involved. We will be inviting parents to two short performances of ‘A Christmas Carol’ later in the term.
Year 7 and 8: It is great to see year 7 and 8 engaging with our core values, especially as our newest pupils are getting to know what is expected of them. Last week, they were exploring the impact of ‘random acts of kindness’ while setting up a surprise for the staff they work with. They showed great concentration and creativity, and a capacity to think of others. Well done years 7 and 8.
Catering: As we know, learning to cook healthy and delicious meals is vital for later in life, and last week, pupils made a Spaghetti Carbonara. As well as following the recipes and applying maths skills, they showed excellent teamwork, and then moved on to working independently.
Parents’ Evening: You will shortly be receiving an email about parents’ evenings. KS3 Parents’ evening will take place before half term, and KS4 will take place shortly after. Having listened to some feedback, we are trialling a single, slightly longer parents’ evening this term. The dates, and approximate time slots will be sent out shortly.
As always, thank you for your kind support and for keeping in touch with us.
Weekly Bulletin 30th September 2024
It has been another busy week at Southbrook School, with a lot of lovely things to share with you.
Flu Vaccinations: Firstly, thank you to everyone who consented to the flu vaccinations. Nearly 80 pupils had their vaccinations with only three pupils declining the nasal spray, and all were completed before breaktime.
OT workshops: We are looking at running our OT interventions differently this year, removing the limitations of one morning a week and utilizing our highly skilled staff more effectively so more pupils can benefit from this important provision. As such, two days were spent doing a variety of activities to provide us with a wealth of information about our pupils. The information gathered will help us in a range of ways including to focus the intervention and support in lessons, in the dinner hall and in planned intervention sessions. It was a very useful and valuable couple of days that will enable us to remove some of the barriers our children face.
Vocational Learning: Year 10 and 11 were all able to visit Dawlish Garden Trust in the first of their visits as part of the new Vocational Learning programme, and they really enjoyed it. Their behaviour was described as polite and respectful while they showed a keen interest in all the activities. They were able to hold rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens and took part in grooming ponies, cleaning their hooves and taking them for a walk. They also mucked out the animal shed.
In the catering sessions, pupils made sausages and mash with onion gravy. The last of the Southbrook apples were picked and they also made delicious apple fritters.
Outdoor Education: This week, a selection of KS4 pupils engaged with climbing. All of the pupils were able to achieve something new this week – for some it was the first time ever climbing, for others it was the highest they climbed, and others climbed a more challenging wall. Two of our year 11 pupils pushed themselves even further and were the first pupils from Southbrook to climb using the climber’s hooks and also attempted the wall that normally is reserved for the Exeter College Climbing pupils!
Performing Arts: Y7 Pupils have been creatively constructing a range of still images, freeze frames and thought tracks to develop their ideas around a magic portal. Pupils worked cooperatively developing their communication skills and facial expressions. Pupils were able to take direction and participate with enthusiasm throughout. A real joy to witness!
Humanities: The Yr 9's have been learning about WW2, they have enjoyed looking at historical artifacts and imagining what life would have been like in the war. They showed high levels of engagement because of the practical and hands-on nature of the learning experiences and learned a lot from the experience. It is always wonderful when pupils come out of a lesson and can’t wait to tell you what they learned, and these humanities lessons inspired this reaction.
Therapy Trips- As you may know, over the last 2 years, the therapy team has worked hard to ensure that our pupils make the most of the external professionals associated with our school. We recognise that in many cases, their physical, sensory and therapeutic needs are a large barrier to engagement in other learning activities and require prioritising at times. It is wonderful to see this learning taking place in real life contexts. SMILE therapy, OT, Life Skills, communication and SALT all now have interventions that take place in and outside of school in interesting places such as Exeter Airport and the community café.
Life Skills: The implementation of the revised Life Skills curriculum has enabled year 7 to continue their work on ‘Community’ as they explored the community at Southbrook. The interconnected relationships were demonstrated using a ball of string. Connected by a web of string, everyone said something kind, and everyone was involved as they learned about the importance of kindness and positive relationships within our school community.
Kellie Knott: We had the pleasure of a visit from Kellie Knott, the SEND Improvement Director. As we toured the school, she saw lessons that looked calm and purposeful, and the visit gave us a chance to talk about the successes, challenges and strategic direction of the school.
School Gateway: Please can we encourage anyone who has not done so already to sign up through the School Gateway App. We will be using this for the majority of communications, to give permissions and to allow you to pay for things. If you need support with this, please contact the school and we will help you out.
Week Ending 20th September 2024
UFO crash-landing: KS3 had a wonderful experience last week as they discovered a crashed aircraft! They used this as a stimulus for English work, both speaking and listening, and writing. The enjoyment they felt was tangible and resulted in some very positive outcomes. It goes to show that a creative and immersive approach can have a big impact on the learning that takes place. Well done KS3.
Outdoor Ed: The first adventurous activities sessions started this week, with pupils from Year 10, 11 and KS4 Static visiting Haven Banks. It was great to see so many pupils take part in activities and get involved. Our pupils take so much confidence and reassurance from our staff, so thank you to all those who got involved and supported our pupils to be brave and give the activities a go.
Life Skills: Yr 7 took part in a scavenger hunt as part of their life skills lessons. They searched the school for letters, finding them in key places around the school and engaging well in a conversation about each one. In doing so, they met key staff, found their way to places they may not have spent time exploring and then returned to their classroom to work out what word the letters spelled. At the end of the lesson, they had they had constructed the word ‘Community’ and explored its meaning. Great work.
Fire Bell: We had the first fire bell practice drill of the year, which went very smoothly. We always review how we can make our procedures more efficient but we were particularly impressed with how the pupil left the building, registered and waited patiently for the drill to finish, especially our newest pupils in year 7.
Vocational Skills: There was a flurry of 10-point reward postcards going to KS4 last week. They were awarded for brilliant teamwork during catering sessions. It has been wonderful to hear feedback from the pupils about these vocational lessons following our redesign of this part of our core offer. This is an important part of our curriculum that will help our pupils make informed decisions about their futures, and allow pupils to make a smooth transition into their chosen college. Well done everyone.
Performing Arts: Yr 10 pupils gave some improvised performances, developing self-esteem and confidence through portrayals of different characters in a range of scenarios. The pupils have been developing their improvisation skills to communicate and express their thoughts and feelings. The pupils participated with enthusiasm throughout a double lesson while problem-solving and handling unexpected situations.
New school council: Following class votes, we now have a new school council, and they mean business. They will now set themselves some targets and projects for the coming year, as well as choosing some fund raising opportunities.
IT update: We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the issues we have experienced with our phone systems. We have had to change a number of our IT systems over the summer and we have enlisted a specialist IT company to resolve these issues. For the time being, the usual number will be diverted to some mobile phones but if you are having difficulty getting through to the school, please email admin@southbrook.devon.sch.uk
Vranch House Partnership working: When members of the therapy team visited Vranch House last week, it became clear that they had heard positive things about the therapies at Southbrook. Susanna Mitchell, our new physiotherapist, was impressed with the amount ofwork the therapies team have done already, and we are now in a position to work more collaboratively with Vranch House. We are keen to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship so our respective specialisms and skills can benefit a greater number of pupils. More information will follow as this develops over the coming year.
Week Ending 20th September 2024
UFO crash-landing: KS3 had a wonderful experience last week as they discovered a crashed aircraft! They used this as a stimulus for English work, both speaking and listening, and writing. The enjoyment they felt was tangible and resulted in some very positive outcomes. It goes to show that a creative and immersive approach can have a big impact on the learning that takes place. Well done KS3.
Outdoor Ed: The first adventurous activities sessions started this week, with pupils from Year 10, 11 and KS4 Static visiting Haven Banks. It was great to see so many pupils take part in activities and get involved. Our pupils take so much confidence and reassurance from our staff, so thank you to all those who got involved and supported our pupils to be brave and give the activities a go.
Life Skills: Yr 7 took part in a scavenger hunt as part of their life skills lessons. They searched the school for letters, finding them in key places around the school and engaging well in a conversation about each one. In doing so, they met key staff, found their way to places they may not have spent time exploring and then returned to their classroom to work out what word the letters spelled. At the end of the lesson, they had they had constructed the word ‘Community’ and explored its meaning. Great work.
Fire Bell: We had the first fire bell practice drill of the year, which went very smoothly. We always review how we can make our procedures more efficient but we were particularly impressed with how the pupil left the building, registered and waited patiently for the drill to finish, especially our newest pupils in year 7.
Vocational Skills: There was a flurry of 10-point reward postcards going to KS4 last week. They were awarded for brilliant teamwork during catering sessions. It has been wonderful to hear feedback from the pupils about these vocational lessons following our redesign of this part of our core offer. This is an important part of our curriculum that will help our pupils make informed decisions about their futures, and allow pupils to make a smooth transition into their chosen college. Well done everyone.
Performing Arts: Yr 10 pupils gave some improvised performances, developing self-esteem and confidence through portrayals of different characters in a range of scenarios. The pupils have been developing their improvisation skills to communicate and express their thoughts and feelings. The pupils participated with enthusiasm throughout a double lesson while problem-solving and handling unexpected situations.
New school council: Following class votes, we now have a new school council, and they mean business. They will now set themselves some targets and projects for the coming year, as well as choosing some fund raising opportunities.
IT update: We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the issues we have experienced with our phone systems. We have had to change a number of our IT systems over the summer and we have enlisted a specialist IT company to resolve these issues. For the time being, the usual number will be diverted to some mobile phones but if you are having difficulty getting through to the school, please email admin@southbrook.devon.sch.uk
Vranch House Partnership working: When members of the therapy team visited Vranch House last week, it became clear that they had heard positive things about the therapies at Southbrook. Susanna Mitchell, our new physiotherapist, was impressed with the amount of work the therapies team have done already, and we are now in a position to work more collaboratively with Vranch House. We are keen to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship so our respective specialisms and skills can benefit a greater number of pupils.
More information will follow as this develops over the coming year.
Week ending 13th September
At the end of the first full week, it is wonderful to say ‘welcome back’ to our year 8s, 9s, 10s and 11s. It has also been wonderful to meet the new year 7 pupils. They have settled very quickly into new routines, many have made some new friends and are already doing very well.
There have been a lot of great things that have taken place over the last week. Here are just a few.
Catering/ Vocational Learning: It was lovely to see KS4 pupils ‘living off the land’ last week. Years 10 and 11 picked blackberries and apples from the allotment, which has been kept watered over the summer by Julie R so the pupils can make the most of what they grew by using it in their cooking. The pupils built on the WJEC unit ‘basic food preparation’, applying the skills as they learned to make a delicious apple crumble.
Bobbie: It has been lovely to see Bobbie, our therapy dog, again this week, and he has thrown himself into Southbrook with a very busy schedule. Bobbie enjoyed some time in the forest school area with a range of pupils, who are all growing in confidence as a result. Bobbie also discovered some beanbags in Thrive corners, and while he enjoyed spending time with some year 9 pupils, there was a sense of triumph when he had the beanbags to himself.
Science: There have been some great things going on in science last week. Year 7 were showing their understanding of some of the safety rules by completing a simple experiment to make a lava lamp. They were excellent at following instructions and walking sensibly around the classroom when collecting equipment. Particularly impressive was the care they took when they were pouring liquids into the bottle and using pipettes. In one of the static classes there was a lot of shouting. On further inspection, they were exploring the use of symbols on bottles of chemicals, and what an exclamation mark may signify. When Mr Elphick looked like he would pour the unknown liquid on his hands, the link between the exclamation mark and the tone of voice they used to stop him hurting himself became clear. A fantastic start to their science learning and great fun too!
Champions for Change Video and survey: Our Champions for Change representatives have appeared in a video on YouTube, in which they explain the survey they have helped create. We have said for a long time that our pupils will be some of the best employees that employers will find- we have all see the commitment they show when they find the thing they love. So it is great to see that they are encouraging others to have ambition and promote pupil voice in this area. The link to the video is SEND Network for Change | Raising Aspirations for Employment (youtube.com) and we will now explore the best way to contribute to the survey.
School Council: Voting has taken place and we now have a new council of representatives. Pupil voice plays an important part at Southbrook, so we are looking forward to seeing what emerges from their meetings.