Life at Alfriston
Our Pupils
All of our pupils have moderate learning difficulties and most pupils also have additional speech, language and communication needs. Some pupils also have physical or emotional needs.
Pupils join the school in Year 7 from a range of settings including mainstream schools, special schools or specialist units. Occasionally, pupils transfer to older year groups from different secondary schools.
Once at Alfriston, all pupils are encouraged to participate fully in school life and make the most of the wide range of opportunities on offer. This may be through learning, creative expression, sporting or other extracurricular activities. Our focus on developing ‘Learning for Living’ skills through the curriculum, and wider curriculum, helps pupils to aspire to strive for their personal best in every aspect of school life.
Pupils are also encouraged to take on other responsibilities in the school, through roles such as Prefects, House Captains, peer mentors and sports leaders.
Curriculum
The curriculum for Years 7, 8, and 9 (Key Stage 3) includes English, Maths, Science, Religion and Ethics, PSHE, Social Skills, PE, Forest School, Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Design Craft, Home Economics.
Within Years 10 & 11 (Key Stage 4) and Post-16, the focus changes in preparation for leaving Alfriston. The curriculum includes enrichment and BTEC options which are taken across a block of lessons. Pupils also start work related learning lessons from Year 10.
For more curriculum information please see here.
Pastoral Groups
Each year group is split into two separate Pastoral groups. Pupils are placed in mixed ability groups led by a Pastoral Tutor and Support Tutor. The Pastoral programme helps pupils to prepare for the day ahead. They are encouraged to build relationships and have more informal conversations within their pastoral group. These twice daily touch-points also allow pupils to regulate and discuss any issues or concerns with a trusted adult.
Pastoral Timetable
| Monday | Catch up from the weekend Value of the week Assembly |
| Tuesday | Reading |
| Wednesday | Games Year 11 Buddies |
| Thursday | Current affairs |
| Friday | Round up of the week Presentations Zones |
Pastoral Meetings
Pastoral meetings for teaching and support staff are held weekly to discuss any issues concerning pupils and identify how these can be addressed.
Break Times
Healthy snacks and drinks are available to buy from the student-run school Kiosk at morning break time. This includes fruit, cereal bars, juice and bottles of water.
Our team of chefs provide healthy, nutritious (and delicious) meals at lunchtimes. Menus will be emailed to parents at the start of every new term.
For more information on School Meals please see here.
Clubs
Lunchtimes are busy with a range of clubs and activities being offered around the two lunch sittings. Meetings of the Student Council, Sports Council and Eco Council are regularly held as working lunches. After school there are further clubs and activities offered and pupils are encouraged to join as many as they are able to.
Reward System
The rewards and recognition system at Alfriston focusses on house points and green cards for working towards our school values in lessons and around school. Each week in assembly we celebrate those pupils who have consistently achieved the most house points and green cards. House point totals are also shared weekly.
Pupils are allocated to one of 4 Houses when they enter Alfriston. The House names have been voted for by the pupils and are named after inspirational women. These are Greta Thunberg, Anne Frank, Emma Watson and Malala Yousafzai.
At the end of each term, the House Cup is presented to the winning House Captain.
Exceptional work or conduct is recognised through the Head Teacher Award, and good work is often displayed on boards around the school, the school portal and the school’s social media channels. A pupil who shows a good attitude over a period of time can be nominated to receive a Headteacher postcard.
Educational Visits & Extracurricular Activities
The school has a strong commitment to the added value of learning beyond the statutory school day and beyond the school premises.
The Governing Body has given its approval to the following types of activities being arranged in support of the educational aims of the school:
- Lunchtime and After School Clubs (Choir, Drama, Art, Lego, Sport, Homework)
- Representative School Teams: We have an extensive programme of sporting opportunities through our links with the South Bucks Special Schools Sports Association and School Games Programme which is hosted by Alfriston School.
- Regular nearby visits (libraries, shops, woodlands, place of worship, farms)
- Day visits for particular year groups
- Residential Visits
- College / School Placements and Visits – BCA & Stony Dean School.
- Local care home visits.
- Links with One Can Trust.
Residential Trips
‘Residentials’ are overnight trips that take place throughout the school year. Alfriston encourages pupils to participate in residential activities each year so that pupils become more independent, experience new activities, socially interact with others and become confident in new situations. The trips include a range of adventurous and cultural experiences.
Year 7: Two Days / One Night – Summer Term stay in Boarding with activities at a local National Trust venue and outdoor activity centre.
Year 8: Three days / Two nights – Spring Term at a local outdoor activity centre.
Year 9: Five Days / Four Nights – Autumn Term at an outdoor activity centre in the New Forest.
Year 10/11: Cultural Visit – Summer Term visit to British or European city or town.
Post 16: National Citizenship Service -Two-week volunteering and activity programme including adventurous / challenge / team-building activities and supporting local community social action projects.
Other opportunities may also be available throughout the year, such as our highly anticipated annual ski trip – which is always a hit!