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Whitburn Church of England Academy aims to:

  • Ensure that all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum
  • Provide a differentiated curriculum appropriate to the individual’s needs and ability
  • Ensure the rapid identification of all pupils requiring SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) provision as early as possible
  • Ensure that SEND pupils take a full part in all academy activities
  • Ensure that parents of SEND pupils are kept as fully informed of their child’s progress and attainment via regular reports, in line with the academy’s reporting policy
  • Ensure that SEND pupils are involved in decisions affecting their future SEND provision

We recognise that many pupils will require additional support at some time during their school life. Whilst many factors create such difficulties, we believe that they can be overcome by parents, teachers and pupils working together.

Additional help is sought for individual pupils who may need specialist equipment to enable them to make full use of the curriculum opportunities available to them e.g. the provision of laptop computers, sloping writing tables etc. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are entered for public examinations in the same way as all other pupils in the school and special arrangements are made in accordance with examination board guidelines.

The building has ramped access for wheelchairs, and has been designed to allow for full disabled access. There are two lifts and the specialist classroom in Food Technology has a height adjustable hob.  All other rooms have appropriate facilities to enable them to be used by disabled pupils or adults.

Pupils are screened in Year 7, this data along with information gathered from primary schools, is used to identify students requiring additional intervention to support their progress and development during Year 7. Support may be provided by the SEN Team, the Literacy Team, the Pastoral Team, individual subject departments or outside agencies. Our Special Educational Needs Support Assistants (SSAs) provide targeted support and intervention for identified pupils in lessons and/or small groups.  More information about this work and the role of the SSA’s can be found in the SEN Information report.

We aim to prepare each pupil to play a full and satisfying role as an adult in our rapidly changing society. Guidance is given to pupils without any restriction with regards to gender, culture, disability or religion.  The academy has considered its curriculum materials, resources, staffing structure and administrative practices so that none of these reinforce unhelpful stereotypes, which could adversely affect the educational or career aspirations of pupils or staff.

Radicalisation & Extremism

South Tyneside Council has produced a leaflet with advice on the safeguarding of young people against radicalisation and extremism.  You can download a copy in PDF format here