Key information
- Day
- 7 – 17
- Primary need ASC, with associated complex needs
- Functional Skills, BTECs and GCSE qualifications
- Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, access to Educational Psychology and Psychotherapy
- Virtual Reality Technology (VR) – to support with transition into the school and we aim to use this technology to support with work experience and life experiences.
Arc Oakbridge School in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, is a new independent special school providing education for young people who are on the autism spectrum.
The school offers a calm, safe and nurturing place where young people with a primary need of autism (ASC) and associated complex needs can learn and grow. They focus on maximising every individuals’ potential to develop into a confident, secure, well-adjusted and skilled young person who will make a positive contribution to society and live as independent a life as possible.
They equip all children and young people with the necessary life skills, academic or vocational qualifications and emotional intelligence to succeed. This will be delivered by a committed and supportive team, utilising a well-resourced and developed curriculum.
The location is perfect for maximising opportunities for developing independence skills and visiting a range of places/facilities nearby such as the library, the markets, museums, shops, the theatre and also offers the chance to practice travelling around the local community by bus and tram.
The school boasts two distinct environments tailored to meet the needs of both the primary and secondary age pupils. Transition is of utmost importance throughout these areas and there is a dedicated member of the staff team in place to support the children to adapt when moving from the smaller more nurturing area of the school to the secondary classrooms. This enables a seamless and supportive pathway throughout the year groups.
The primary area of the school offers low arousal classrooms with muted colours and sensory lighting throughout. Whereas the secondary area of the school has more of a mainstream feel, with a range of classrooms for each specialised subject. The safe and nurturing model continues throughout the secondary age groups, offering small teaching groups and higher levels of staff support. This allows for a supportive middle ground between the primary year groups and secondary school life, giving an understanding of future learning and real-life experiences.
Education and support staff work alongside and collaborate with therapeutic staff. All the young people benefit from a range of whole school approaches including sensory friendly spaces, a visual communication system and individual and personalised programmes designed by therapeutic specialist staff.
The therapeutic team consists of Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology and Psychotherapy. The range of qualifications offered include Functional Skills, BTECs and GCSEs.
Facilities include: separate, small and specially lit primary classrooms, a science lab, an art studio, a music room and studio, a school gym, a main central area for dining, a multi-use assembly hall, and a large safe outdoor play area and garden.
Our school uses Virtual Reality (VR) Technology in order to prepare potential new starters for their experience at the school. The technology shows the end user 360 degree images of the school, school grounds and offsite locations that are visited frequently. This approach is crucial to help support any initial anxieties or concerns a young person may have about starting at the school. The technology is not only brilliantly effective, it is also a lot of fun!