Mission Statement: Empowering children and young people with the skills and attributes they need, to enable them to become successful adults.

School Vision:

At Woodlands, we believe that learning in school should inspire, support and empower our young people to achieve their full potential so that they can become successful adults.  Our school curriculum prioritises giving students the opportunities to practise and develop the skills and attributes that will support them to engage and participate well in life – life within, life outside and life beyond school.

We prioritise functional learning and life skills, empowering students to become independent and confident.  Independence will look different for different students. By keeping the needs and aspirations of our young people at the centre of what we do and by working closely with parents, professionals, and the wider community, we make sure every opportunity is maximised for each individual.

We are a vibrant, fun, and inclusive community, where students, families, and staff learn and grow together. Emotional wellbeing and resilience is at the heart of all we do.

Woodlands Secondary School: Our Aims

1. Communication and Student Voice

• Promote functional communication skills for all students, including the use of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).
• Facilitate student voice by actively listening to students—understanding what matters to them and what makes them feel safe.
• Involve students in decision making, supporting them to make choices in a wide range of situations.

2. Personalised, Functional Curriculum

• Provide a curriculum tailored to individual needs, preparing students for life in school, the wider community, and their future.
• Focus learning on developing, transferring, and maintaining functional skills that support successful transitions to adulthood.
• Support students to maintain essential skills where this is the most appropriate goal.

3. Wellbeing, Behaviour and Resilience

• Create a nurturing environment that encourages both students and staff to be the best they can be.
• Support individual wellbeing by helping students build confidence and positive self-esteem.
• Equip students with resilience tools to handle disappointment and manage change, both now and in adulthood.
• Enable students to regulate their behaviour and develop an understanding of their own and others’ behaviour in school, the community, and beyond.

4. Health and Therapeutic Support

• Meet students’ physical, sensory, medical and therapeutic needs through collaboration with a range of professionals.
• Promote emotional and physical wellbeing and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

5. Partnerships and Transitions

• Work closely with parents, carers, the Local Authority, professionals and key stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes for every student.
• Ensure successful transitions into Woodlands and on to post-school provision by working collaboratively with students, families, and outside agencies.

6. Independence and Community Involvement

• Encourage independence, confidence and active involvement in both the school and wider community.

We promote Woodlands Values and British Values by:

At Woodlands, British values are embedded throughout our curriculum and daily school life, supporting our students to become confident, respectful, and active members of society.

1. Democracy

• Empowering student voice:
  • Through daily classroom interaction, the school council and other student forums, we listen to our students’ ideas and implement their suggestions where possible.
• Stakeholder collaboration:
  • We actively seek the views of students, staff, parents, and the wider community, ensuring everyone has a voice in shaping our school for the benefit of students.

2. The Rule of Law

• Safe and structured environment:
  • We provide a safe, predictable environment where clear expectations help students thrive and learn.
• Positive behaviour and high expectations:
  • Our ethos is built on mutual trust, respect, empathy, and understanding, with consistent routines and boundaries.
• Honesty and accountability:
  • We encourage openness about needs, difficulties, and successes, promoting personal responsibility.

3. Individual Liberty

• Promoting independence and choice:
  • Students are supported to make good decisions and choices, nurturing their confidence and independence.
• Creative and challenging curriculum:
  • Our engaging curriculum encourages students to embrace challenge, take risks, and develop positive attitudes towards life and learning.
• Celebrating individual achievements:
  • We recognise and celebrate each student’s successes, strengths, and progress.

4. Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

• Respect for diversity:
  • We celebrate difference, promote equality, embrace diversity, and challenge prejudice.
• Developing emotional literacy, respect, and tolerance:
  • Students learn to understand and manage their own emotions, respect others, and coexist harmoniously.
• Caring and thoughtful attitudes:
  • Through daily interactions and structured opportunities, we encourage caring, empathy, and kindness.
• Healthy and active lifestyles:
  • We promote wellbeing for all, supporting students to lead healthy, active lives and to respect others’ choices.

5. Preparation for Life in Modern Britain

• Work-related learning and careers education:
  • Opportunities such as the tuck shop, café, external work placements, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award help students develop skills for adulthood and active citizenship.