VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
that provides stability and unwavering support – even if it is not what they experience once they step outside the school gates.
Academically, staff know what boys need to thrive. Our provision is engaging and relevant. We work continuously so that students can pursue the learning pathway matched to their interests and individual needs. Staff have consistently high expectations, encouraging students to aim high and ensure they are suitably challenged. As the majority of our pupils have EAL, we have specialist staff who ensure students have the support they need. For example, teachers are available for those who need assistance with subject-specific vocabulary to enable them to succeed.
What other support has been important? Mental health has been a particularly important focus for the school. We introduced a school- wide policy about self-care and emotional regulation for all our students. This approach has helped to remove the stigma of mental wellbeing which meant that when a student needed more supportive interventions, it was normalised. Creating an environment where students can flourish is also supported by our ‘House Leaders’. They are individual members of staff with minimal teaching loads who are safeguarding leads responsible for the wellbeing of pupils in their ‘House’. They liaise with families when extra support is needed, and work with their pupils for all five years, focusing on all aspects of their education.
A significant number of our pupils have been impacted by trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Staff have received training to help support these pupils and to do whatever
is necessary to ensure they can achieve their potential.
How do you help students to excel beyond school?
We regularly talk about some of our incredible success stories; from D-Day veteran and code breaker, Bernard Morgan, to Nobel-prize winning ecologist, Professor Terry Callaghan, to Manchester United captain, Roger Byrne. We have some notable former students and their stories, and how they overcame the barriers they faced, are truly inspiring. In fact, many of our alumni return to the school to mentor our current students and support them in their studies. This can be through assemblies, seminars, or taking part in our annual ‘Industry Week’, where experts in their field share their career journeys with pupils.
We also want success to be seen as commonplace and attainable for any boy at Burnage. We regularly remind them that progress at Burnage exceeds most state schools in England. We want them to understand this is the norm and something they should assume for themselves as well.
Our pupils volunteer at the local food bank, helping with collections and volunteering. We have established the Burnage Community Wrestling Club which generously provides free coaching, mentoring and employability skills for students, and is led by one of our safeguarding team who recently won a National Teaching Award for his work with the club.
How has austerity impacted the school? Many of our families are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis. Since the pandemic, we have
worked very closely with vulnerable families, providing help with finding accommodation and offering practical support such as clothes washing. All Year 7 pupils receive a free tie and blazer, and uniform is kept as affordable as possible. We will provide uniform and PE kits to those families who may struggle to afford it. Our safeguarding team and their wider network include counsellors, health professionals, and social workers. They will regularly visit families at home to support those most in need. Where students find it hard to study at home, for instance if they are living in cramped accommodation, we run after school and weekend study sessions, and have provided laptops for those pupils who do not have one at home.
Many of the pupils at Burnage don’t have access to the range of cultural experiences Manchester has to offer. We therefore devote a significant amount of time to providing opportunities such as visits to museums, gardens and the Peak District. The school has won funding to offer 75 pupils a fully funded week at our partner school in France.
How has the school’s reputation changed? In previous years, the number of pupils attending the school was not reflective of the incredible work being done by both staff and students in the face of a number of challenges. However, the tireless effort by all connected to the school has reversed our fortunes and made us a school of choice, with a full and expanded Year 7 and a waiting list. The local community now sees the school for what it is: a place of exceptional practice and outcomes, and a haven for young people to thrive.
October 2024
www.education-today.co.uk 19
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