What We Do
PCT Education believes that all students are entitled to a curriculum that offers a wide range of learning opportunities. We provide innovative, creative approaches that enable students to work towards their individual learning goals, while extending their engagement and abilities, leading to diverse progression pathways tailored to each learner.
New Website launch! – A fresh new look - Together in Learning, United in Belonging
New Website launch! – A fresh new look - Together in Learning, United in Belonging
Students Entitlement
PCT Education values and ethos ensures that students are provided with continuous opportunities for life, skills for work and academic achievements in all core subjects, alongside the development of their Social Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Well-being. Being a small independent school we have a high level of experienced staff providing two to one ratio of support to students. This allows us to provide social time so students can build trust and form positive relationships, leading to a sense of belonging.
Personal Development
We work with our students to develop hobbies and interests alongside social and independence skills, helping to prepare them for adult life. Supporting students to try new experiences encourages the development of their individual personalities, builds confidence, and strengthens resilience. We help students build on the areas in which they thrive, while supporting their growth in areas they may find more challenging.
We take an “out-of-the-box” approach to education so that students can recognise their strengths, understand their challenges, enjoy positive learning experiences, develop teamwork skills, and feel confident and happy at school. In turn, they are better able to identify their goals and aspirations, and we can support them in achieving their full potential.
Students will have opportunities to explore hobbies and interests through lunchtime clubs, one-to-one discussions, and a range of school projects throughout the year. They will also access community visits to enrich and embed learning.
Clear pathways will be identified and recorded, and staff will encourage students to pursue these interests, using them to enrich and personalise each student’s individual curriculum.
Vocational Opportunities
Sequentis House is our vocational training centre and an exciting new facility for alternative education. The centre offers bespoke, supported education and training opportunities in Mechanics, Mechanical Maintenance, Engineering, Construction and Multi-Trades, Catering and Hospitality, and Media and Technology. Plans are currently underway to expand provision to include Sports, Music and Music Technology, Animal Care, and Horticulture.
The facilities are designed to support students in the older year groups to explore vocational pathways and prepare for their post-16 transition through active, hands-on learning opportunities aligned to their individual interests. Learning is carefully tailored to meet the needs, strengths, and aspirations of each learner.
Yearly Activities
Each year, students will take part in a cross-school group activity designed to support the development of positive relationships, communication skills, and confidence. Activities will provide appropriate challenge in a safe and engaging environment, helping students to build resilience, develop problem-solving skills, and increase their understanding of the wider world.
Year 7&8 -
Outdoor activity centre day
Year 9 -
Outdoor activity centre overnight residential
Year 10 -
Day trip to London
Year 11 -
Overseas residential
Preparing For
Adult Life
Year 9
Students will begin their preparing for adulthood plans. This looks at personal progression routes, independent living, participating in society and being as healthy as possible in adult life and what things need to be considered for their future.
Year 10
Year 10's will continue to develop greater resilience, staying positive when faced with challenges, and using feedback to improve both academically and personally. They will start planning for their future by researching careers that interest them, attending at least one careers talk or event, and identifying the subjects and skills they need to focus on to reach their goals.
The year 10's will be given the chance to explore vocational options, develop interests that could lead to post-16 pathways and creatively explore the wider world. They will also be able to explore work experience opportunities individualised to the students' needs and interests.
Year 11
By the end of Year 11, they will have developed the independence, resilience, and focus needed to successfully complete exams and make informed decisions about their next steps. They will take ownership of their progress by setting goals, seeking support when needed, and actively explore post-16 options. They will have faced challenges that will stay with them and prepare them for adult life. They will feel confident to be able to face challenges in life and leave school with positive memories that will stay with them. They will be able to use these memories to drive them to do new things in future.
The year 11's will have opportunities to visit colleges and begin their transitions. They will be able to have an adaptive timetable to build on the skills they need to transition to post-16. They will be given the chance to develop the specific skills and knowledge and experiences needed for their options.
Year 12
Once the year 11's have transitioned into their post 16 option. Contacts will have been established between the young person's parent/carers/professionals and Post-16 Provider. We support with enrolment and settling onto the course and check in that they are happy with their chosen course. They are invited and welcomed back to visit as previous students are always welcome.
Student Progression
Year 10 Progression
Enrichment
There is no statutory requirement for schools to provide Enrichment opportunities, but it is encouraged by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted. Ofsted's inspection framework emphasises the importance of personal development and extending the curriculum beyond academic achievement. We see it as necessary that all of our students have access to do things they love, as this helps build passion and confidence across the board. We feel it is essential that students get to do something for no other reason than they have an interest or passion in that thing.
Within the Enrichment team, we support students to engage with life-affirming activities that support socialisation, personal growth, self worth and support to bring families together. We offer activities and trips designed to expand the skills and experiences that children have — this is known as Enrichment. Such activities included Circus Skills Workshops, after school dance club 'Beat Inspiration' and engagement with local activities such as the 'Out There Festival'. See included information to get a better idea of what we do.
We also know that 1:1 support can work best with some students, so some may be supported around 1:1 personal activity. These include completing a piece of artwork, caring for the school dog, having time in the local Cat Café or making a miniature garden.We offer 1:1 personal therapy for all students that wish to engage with it. We want to support our student's mental health and emotional resilience, so we feel it is essential to offer these 1:1 sessions, at times seeing students through the holiday periods to support continuity and a high level of support.
We are responsible for Family Support and look to build robust and resilient relationships with our student's homes/families. We know that if the student's family is engaged and behind the school, our students will achieve better results, be happy in school, and have an overall better educational experience, paving the way for college and further learning.This can take a long time due to some of our family's previous educational experiences. We look to carry out weekly contact/home visits, if necessary, to build these relationships and offer any support we can.
We also support staff with regular clinical supervision for all staff members to use. This is an opportunity for staff members to have a space to explore worries, concerns and difficulties they may be having.This space offers the opportunity to support staff with understanding the conscious and unconscious processes that might be present within the classroom and to explore the relationships and dynamics between both staff and students. Research has shown that this style of support increases staff morale, effectiveness, and confidence and decreases stress, burnout, and absence.
Wild Project
PCT Education has undertaken a new and exciting project called WILD. The project has been developed and is managed across both schools. All aspects of the project are fully insured and risk assessed, providing a safe environment for all involved.
The objective of the project is to take the learning environment outside the classroom and encourage young people to use their imaginations and explore the world around them. All areas of the curriculum can creatively use the space to bring their subjects alive.
WILD is situated in the centre of the countryside. We have 25 amazing acres of woodland to explore.
Bush craft skills
The woods have a lot to offer our students; we have a structured programme that is built around their interests alongside stretching their knowledge and providing a safe environment to push their boundaries.
Students have an opportunity to learn bush craft skills, building up to an overnight stay under the stars staying in their own shelter.
Flourish Approach
Family & Friends -
Encourage positive collaboration with family & peers.
Learning-
Hands-on, problem-solving, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) self-reflection, increased engagement. Gatsby benchmark informed targets.
Opportunity -
Access to new skills, hobbies and interests and to learn to find new things fun.
Understood -
Mentoring sessions to ensure they can express ideas & feel listened to.
Resilience -
Encouragement to give everything a go and push through challenges to have a positive outcome.
Individual -
Recognising own unique learning styles and strengths.
Safe & Secure -
Develop positive relationships. Restorative approach to challenging behaviour.
Healthy -
Promoting confidence in skills, self-esteem, well-being and developing rapport,