VTC Independent School aims to ensure that all pupils have access to an appropriate curriculum to ensure they achieve their potential and are not disadvantaged in comparison to their peers who access education in mainstream settings.

We provide for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs who may have been permanently excluded or at risk of being permanently excluded from school. Currently this school caters for up to 32 pupils from the ages 14 to 18.

It is common for our pupils to have been out of education for long periods of time before placement here, due to not being able to access or engage in their mainstream provision, or lack of any appropriate provision being available. As a result, they usually have complex co-morbid needs alongside low self-esteem and confidence due to continued failure to engage or progress their learning, this predominantly manifests itself in very challenging behaviour and even more barriers to overcome.

We therefore offer learning pathways that are multifaceted, personalised and motivating in order to engage in new learning opportunities including highly specialised vocational offers, work experience, community project work and outdoor wellbeing interventions supported by a core of academic studies in a nurturing environment.

Previous poor attendance levels, allied to long periods out of school will be tackled with personalised programmes which will increase their attendance over time. The ethos of the school is to provide a positive learning environment that will ensure this is monitored and informed over time.

The biggest influence in changing these behaviours is impacted by the amount of time given to meeting the pupils social and emotional needs are met through high staffing levels and personalised interventions and strategies. Liaison with parents, carers, LA, and other agencies is hugely important in the success of the placement. Pupils will leave with a range of qualifications that match their requirements for their onward transition including core functional skills and vocational courses at level 1 +.

VTC Independent School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.