Ravenscliffe High School and Sports College

We are Calderdale's only secondary special school, and cater for pupils with a wide range of special educational needs, including: moderate and severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders, sensory impairment, and physical disabilities. A small percentage have identified moderate emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Well-qualified teachers and support assistants deliver the curriculum, to groups, in which favourable staff to student ratios are maintained. The organisation of the school reflects that of a mainstream secondary school, with students predominantly taught in chronological year groups and all National Curriculum subjects offered, plus personal, social, health and citizenship education, careers advice and opportunities for work experience or post school preparation activities. The school also operates specialised needs based communication groups, in which students focus on the development of a range of skills from non-verbal and verbal functional communication, to reading, writing and comprehension. These extend into needs based literacy, numeracy and ICT sessions within key stage groupings.

Great emphasis is placed on students becoming involved in the community, visiting local shops and places of interest and developing independence skills by using public transport with appropriate levels of support from staff. Inclusion opportunities are actively promoted and supported. Some students may spend time working collaboratively with mainstream peers, or attend sessions at other local schools or colleges. The school's Springboard programme provides some students with vocational experience opportunities and intensive staff support during extended workplace placements.

The aim of Ravenscliffe High School and Sports college is: 'To recognise and respond to the individual needs of its students and provide them with a relevant and challenging curriculum whilst working closely with parents and carers.'

We aspire to achieve this by: providing a positive, well resourced learning environment staffed by trained and committed professionals; encouraging students to develop a positive attitude to learning through the celebration of success and achievement; maintaining high expectations in terms of attendance, behaviour and co-operation in learning; providing a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum, including the National Curriculum, which excites and challenges students; ensuring a safe and caring environment where individual views on religious and cultural issues are respected as students develop into responsible citizens; working closely with parents, carers and the local community and managing the funding and resources available in an effective and efficient manner.