Curriculum & Planning

At Rhodes Wood Hospital School, our curriculum is primarily based on the areas of study recommended by each young person’s home school. This approach ensures continuity in their education, allowing them to progress within the framework of their usual academic setting. Our goal is to provide a personalised programme tailored to each individual, reflecting the curriculum of their enrolled school or college. This way, disruptions to their education are minimised, offering a stable learning environment that supports a seamless transition back into education once they are discharged.

In cases where mirroring the home school curriculum is not feasible or appropriate, Rhodes Wood Hospital School has developed a comprehensive, holistic curriculum. This ensures that the unique needs of each young person are met, fostering their growth and educational development during their time with us.

Curriculum Goals

We are a responsive, student-centred school that listens to the needs of each young person, aiming to make their time with us, whether short or long, a positive and enriching experience. Our core value is to ensure that every student, regardless of their mental health challenges or other individual characteristics, can access education and feel a strong sense of belonging. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for young people while they are away from their enrolled school, community, and home.

The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to meet the diverse educational needs of our students. In our classrooms, we foster an environment where debate and discussion are encouraged and thrive. We are committed to maintaining a space free of political bias, where all viewpoints, whether from students, teachers, or other adults, can be explored and respectfully challenged.

The goals of the curriculum are:

Access to Quality Learning: Ensure all students, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), have access to high-quality learning experiences suited to their needs.
Opportunities for Achievement: Focus on providing pathways for progression, success, and achievement in education.
Continuity in Learning: Support lifelong learning and prepare students for adulthood, including facilitating smooth transitions in and out of the school system.
Positive Learning Environment: Create a classroom atmosphere that makes learning enjoyable and fosters engagement, motivation, and commitment.
Skill Development: Help students build independence, cooperation, resilience, initiative, and self-reliance, boosting self-esteem and confidence.

Celebrating Diversity: Encourage exploration and celebration of differences in culture, belief, and viewpoints through open discussion and debate.
Career Readiness: Offer an age-appropriate career curriculum and support to help students transition to the workforce or further education.
Post-16 Opportunities: Provide learning opportunities after age 16 that support successful community living, societal contribution, and work readiness
Holistic Support: Collaborate with the hospital team to offer a holistic approach to each student’s education, care, and treatment plan.
Smooth Transitions: Facilitate the smooth reintegration of students back into their home school or assist with transitioning to a new educational placement.

Specialist Education & Learning Opportunities

Although the school is not legally required to follow the National Curriculum, we choose to adhere to it wherever it is appropriate for the needs of individual students and the group as a whole. We understand the importance of staying current with curriculum developments and actively seek out opportunities to enhance and extend our students’ learning experiences.

We are committed to fostering the social, moral, spiritual, and cultural (SMSC) development of our students. Across all subjects, we ensure that there are meaningful opportunities to explore and teach these essential aspects and values. Our classrooms prominently feature our core values, which have been collaboratively developed with our students. These values guide the expectations for behaviour and conduct within the classroom and throughout the school.

We are dedicated to instilling values that promote unity within our school and the wider community. We believe these values, which are foundational to British society, should be integrated into every facet of school life. Every member of the school community is encouraged to uphold these values. We promote them not only through our school’s values but also through our curriculum delivery, school offerings, and enrichment activities.

Personalised Approach

Our small class sizes enable us to provide a personalised curriculum tailored to each student’s needs. Upon admission, we gather a comprehensive range of information through both formal and informal assessments, alongside baseline measurements, to create a clear picture of each young person’s strengths and areas for growth. This approach helps us identify any gaps in learning and serves as a foundation for tracking progress throughout their hospital stay.

For certain subjects, such as Drama, SMSC and PHSE, we teach in larger groups to enhance the effectiveness of the learning experience and foster positive peer interactions.”

Realising the curriculum

We currently offer English, Maths, Science, and PSHE as core subjects. In addition, we provide a wide range of other National Curriculum subjects and enrichment opportunities to meet the diverse needs and interests of our students, including those requiring post-16 provision. To further support individual learning pathways, we have access to e-learning platforms, enabling us to deliver tailored courses across various subjects. Where appropriate, students can also have their achievements formally accredited through award schemes, as well as through Functional English and Maths qualifications.

Education, Health & Social Care Plan (EHCP)

An EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) is a legal document that outlines a child or young person’s special educational, health, and care needs. It details the additional support required to meet these needs and the strategies that will help the child or young person achieve their goals in life.

The EHCP provides support up until the age of 25. If a young person does not yet have an EHCP, we have a dedicated member of staff who will assist in submitting an application to the local authority. This process is carried out in consultation with the young person’s psychiatrist and their parents or carers. Our team ensures that an annual review is carried out for those with an existing EHCP. We organise meetings with relevant professionals from both the community and the hospital to ensure that the plan continues to meet the evolving needs of the young person.

English as an additional language (EAL)

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all young people. To ensure that no young person is disadvantaged by language differences, we actively seek guidance from the home school or the young person’s Local Authority (LA) to offer tailored support. This ensures that young people with English as an additional language have the same access to opportunities as those for whom English is the primary language.

Careers Guidance

We provide a highly personalised career guidance programme, led by impartial advisors from Hertfordshire Services for Young People, alongside industry experts who visit the school regularly throughout the year. In addition to one-on-one guidance, our careers education is seamlessly integrated into the PHSS, Life Skills and Beyond the Curriculum, ensuring students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of career pathways.

Students can also engage in individual discussions about their career interests during key work sessions. We work closely with parents to support visits to open days and careers events, empowering students to make informed decisions about their future career choices.

Transition – Support towards life outside/beyond the hospital school

In some cases, a young person may not be able to return to their previous education provider. For instance, they may have attended a school that does not offer sixth form provision. In such situations, we collaborate closely with the home Local Authority (LA) to ensure that the transition to a new educational provider is as smooth as possible. Our team is actively involved in identifying the most suitable new school or college and providing the necessary support throughout the transition process.

Many of our young people have aspirations of attending university, and our experienced staff are fully equipped to guide them through the UCAS application process. This includes offering tailored support for applications to prestigious institutions such as Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities, ensuring that every student has the best opportunity to achieve their higher education goals. Additionally, we work alongside Hertfordshire University to provide further UCAS guidance and support for our students.

Exam & Assessment Result

As a registered examination centre, we offer young people the opportunity to sit their GCSE and A-level exams while remaining on roll with us. These exams are conducted in full accordance with JCQ guidelines, typically through a transferred candidate arrangement with the student’s home school or college. Additionally, we are able to enter young people as independent candidates if they are not dual registered at another educational institution.

This year’s exam results are truly remarkable, highlighting not only the exceptional talent of our students but also the dedication and hard work they have invested throughout their time at the school. These results reflect their commitment to excellence, and the strong foundation built by both students and staff who have supported them every step of the way. The results are a testament to the excellent progress and attainment achieved within the school.

GCSE Grades 4 to 7: 89% of students achieved grades between 7 and 4 (equivalent to A-C)
GCSE Grades 7 to 9: 34% of students achieved grades between 9 and 7 (equivalent to A*-A)
A-level Grade A to A*: 100% of students achieved top grades (A* to A)

These exceptional results reflect both the hard work of our students and the high-quality support provided by our dedicated staff and the wider community.