The Curriculum
Education staff teach lessons in Maths, English,ICT, PSHE and Critical Thinking, Finance Management, subjects within the Work Related Learning framework and study skills and touch typing.
Following admission to Simmons House a member of the teaching team will visit the student’s ‘home school’ to meet the Head of Year, view education records and collect teaching and learning materials to support access to maths and English examinations at Key Stage 3 or GCSE. Personal programmes of learning can be put in place for additional subjects at GCSE in consultation with the pupil’s ‘home school’.
Simmons House classroom is a registered examination centre for all UK exam boards. Students who have been entered by their ‘home school’ for examinations will have their entries transferred to Simmons House. For young people who have not been able to access formal examinations literacy and numeracy Entry Level examinations may be taken throughout the academic year.
Young people who are keen to pursue Drama at GCSE can access a twilight
course at North London Performing Arts but funding for this has to be negotiated
by parents/carers/home school or the management team of Simmons House and application
for a place made in July.
On admission the teaching staff support students to undertake a series of educational assessment tasks to help draw up an Individual Education Plan. We engage parents/carers to help in finalising the IEP, with the young person, once assessments have been completed. The IEP is reviewed throughout the admission to Simmons House.
If appropriate a student may access a specific subject at a neighbouring secondary school. We have had pupils access GCSE and A Level Art, English and maths. Pupils may also be partially re-integrated into their home school to receive tuition if this is appropriate for their needs during their admission.
Prior to discharge from Simmons House plans will be put in place for the young person to integrate into their ‘home school’, or access a college place, an alternative education or training provision or a new school. Pupils may be accompanied by a member of the teaching staff, a keyworker or their Personal Adviser from the Connexions Service.