Ages 
Pupils thrive in this nurturing environment, with committed staff working hard to offer them opportunities to suit their individual needs. As a parent summed it up, ‘It’s not just a good school - it’s good people.’
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 272 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 23 ·
- Local authority
- Staffordshire County Council
- SEN provision
- · ASD
Headteacher
Headteacher
Gail Brindley
Since 2016, Gail Brindley BA (music from Bretton Hall, Leeds University) PGCE (University of Central England). Joined the school in 2010 as music and maths teacher, her first post in special education. Previously 18 years’ experience as a music
Entrance
A generic special school for pupils with an EHCP. A broad range of needs, including autism, moderate to severe learning disabilities and speech and language communication difficulties. Not a specialist SEMH school.
Most join in year 7, almost
Exit
All pupils have a destination on leaving, either college or work placement. Most continue to a South Staffordshire College ‘futures’ course at the Torc or ‘routes to college’ at Tamworth or Lichfield. A few to Hereward or Loughborough Colleges.
Latest results
We do not publish results data for special schools. Find out more.
Teaching & learning
Four specialist departments – discoverers, explorers, adventurers and pioneers – helps maintain a small-school family atmosphere. Each department has four or five classes of up to 12 pupils with as many as nine TAs, depending on need.
Learning support & SEN
Arts & extracurricular
Six or so clubs on offer each day, lots at lunchtime to fit in with pupils’ transport arrangements. We dropped in on library club in the cosy, well-stocked library – a couple of pupils sitting either side of the teacher, sharing books with her,
Sport
Main sports are football, cricket, rounders, basketball and tag rugby. One pioneer pupil told us sport was his favourite thing at school – he liked going to play in tournaments (school competes in regional special school fixtures). Another parent
Ethos & heritage
Part of the Endeavour Multi Academy Trust, Two Rivers is a modern single-storey school on a spacious site. Corridors are wide and mostly plain (for a calmer environment, says school) with a few displays of large-scale art and noticeboards (we liked a
Therapy & staffing
Specialist music therapist and staff trained in therapies including drawing and talking, nurture, Lego, relaxation therapy and ELSA. Most therapy delivered in small group sessions with some one-to-one work too. Sensory circuits are part of the daily
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
‘Zones of regulation’, with traffic light colours in every classroom, to help pupils recognise and deal with their feelings (eg stretching, deep breathing, asking to leave classroom). Lots of break-out spaces where a pupil can have a ‘brain break’
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review At Two Rivers School the welfare and well-being of our pupils is paramount. The aim of the Mobile Phone, Camera and Image Policy is to allow users to benefit from modern communication technologies, whilst promoting safe and appropriate practice through establishing clear and robust acceptable mobile user guidelines. This is achieved through balancing protection against potential misuse with the recognition that mobile phones are effective communication tools.
It is recognised that it is the enhanced functions of many mobile phones that cause the most concern, offering distractions and disruption to the working day, and which are most susceptible to misuse - including the taking and distribution of indecent images, exploitation and bullying. However, as it is difficult to detect specific usage, this policy refers to ALL mobile communication devices.
We recognise that mobile phones are part of everyday life for many children and that they play an important role in helping pupils to feel safe and secure. We also recognise they can prove a distraction within school and can provide a means of bullying or intimidating others. If in the rare event of a parent wishing for his/her child to bring a mobile phone to school to contact the parent after school: The phone must be switched off and handed in to the office first thing in the morning. Mobile phones found in lesson time and used without permission will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.
Pupils & parents
Most from Tamworth, Burton, Lichfield and Cannock, some from neighbouring Birmingham, Warwickshire and Derbyshire.
Pupils seem happy and engaged (and well-mannered - holding doors open with a polite ‘After you’). We asked a group of pupils if
Money matters
Funded by local authority via EHCP. Almost 50 per cent of pupils are eligible for pupil premium - parents can specify exactly how £250 of this is used.
The last word
Pupils thrive in this nurturing environment, with committed staff working hard to offer them opportunities to suit their individual needs. As a parent summed it up, ‘It’s not just a good school - it’s good people.’
