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Hills

Overview and Provision 

Pupils continue their journey into Upper School by transitioning into either Hills or Rivers at the end of Year 8. Within Hills Phase, we provide a nurturing and structured environment where every young person feels safe, happy, and ready to learn. Our focus is on developing essential skills for life beyond the classroom, through personalised teaching, rich experiences, and consistent pastoral support. 

Pupils in Hills Phase are taught in class-based groups for core subject areas of Maths, English and Science with high levels of support. Each class has a dedicated teacher and support staff team who know their learners well and adapt lessons to meet individual needs. Pupils move around the school to access specialist teaching within Life Skills, PE and Pathway Specialist subjects. 

Our curriculum builds on the foundations of communication, social understanding, functional literacy and numeracy, and personal development, ensuring that learning is both meaningful and engaging. Hills pupils access a highly supported environment where they are encouraged to build confidence, independence, and functional life skills. 

Approaches to Learning 

We use multi-sensory teaching and learning to support engagement and understanding. Lessons often include visual, auditory, tactile, and practical elements so that all pupils can access and enjoy learning. This approach promotes curiosity, confidence, and communication, helping students to make strong connections between concepts and everyday life. 

Communication lies at the heart of learning in the Hills Phase. We use a range of communication aids to ensure that every pupil can express themselves, understand expectations, and take an active role in their learning. These include: 

  • Task Boards – providing clear, visual structures that help pupils understand daily routines, manage transitions, and develop independence in completing tasks. 

  • Aided Language Displays (ALDs) – supporting communication by offering visual symbols and key vocabulary to help pupils initiate conversation, make choices, and share their thoughts. 

  • Colourful Semantics – helping pupils build sentences, extend vocabulary, and develop grammatical understanding in a meaningful and engaging way. 

These tools are used consistently across lessons, social times, and wider school activities, ensuring that pupils have the support they need to communicate confidently and successfully in all contexts. 

Pathways and Learning Experiences 

We offer a range of Pathways from Year 9 onwards that reflect the different strengths, interests, and needs of our learners. These include academic, vocational, and life skills routes, ensuring each student can progress at the right pace and in the right direction for them. Pupils can choose to study a range of creative and practical subject areas such as Performing Arts, Construction, Motor Vehicle Studies and Hair and Beauty in preparation for further study at college. 

 Learning extends beyond the classroom through community-based experiences, enterprise activities, and enrichment opportunities that help pupils apply their skills in real-world contexts. 

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing 

Every pupil benefits from consistent support through their dedicated class team, who provide daily structure, encouragement, and emotional care. The team works closely with families and therapists to ensure that wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Through trusted relationships and positive routines, students develop the confidence and resilience needed to thrive. 

Towards Independence 

Within Hills Phase, we place great emphasis on helping pupils become confident, independent young people who are ready for life beyond school. Through life skills lessons, enrichment activities, school trips, and whole-school events, pupils develop the resilience, self-awareness, and practical skills needed to prepare for post-16 education and future pathways. 

Active participation in the School Council empowers pupils to share their voices and contribute to shaping their school community. Roles such as Pupil Buddies and Reading Leaders further promote responsibility, teamwork, and leadership, enabling pupils to act as positive role models across the phase. 

The Hills Phase provides the ideal bridge between upper school and the next stage of learning — a time for growth, discovery, and increasing independence.