Building a Brand New School - The Challenges and Opportunities

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Hello and welcome back to the Wellspring Way. This is our fortnightly chance to discover some of the brilliant things going on in our schools and to hear about some of the issues facing education professionals. I'm joined on the show today by an education leader who's taken on the exciting once-in-a-career opportunity to create a brand new school from scratch. An experienced professional who's been involved in SEND at a senior level at Greenacre School in Barnsley. She's now at the helm of our new purpose-built Post 16 Special College in Scunthorpe. The school's currently under construction and due to open in September next year. I'm thrilled to be talking today to Principal Designate at Trentview College, Sarah Parker. Sarah, welcome. Hello, thank you. Now I had the privilege of visiting the new school site earlier this week and it looks brilliant. It's going to be fantastic, isn't it? You must be so excited. Really, really excited.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

The build's been uh started last January, um, but since that we've been involved in the the planning um and the meetings um with the architects, designers and and procurement team. So it's it's felt like it's been going on for quite a long time. Um so to actually see physical walls, windows uh and walls going up inside is really really exciting.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

Yeah, because you can you can visualize it now, can't you? I mean it's it still is very much a building site, but you can really see where things are going to be and some of the really innovative stuff that's going on in that building.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

Yeah, you can really get a feel for how the how the provision will run. Um the provision's going to be really sort of quite niche, um tailored to the the needs of the post-16 cohort of young people, but really focusing on um transition and how we prepare them for adulthood. So that that means that we have some real commercial opportunities within the building. So there's a life skills cafe in the reception, so that will be run by students, it will be open to the public. We've got a hydrotherapy pool to support the physical and social needs of some of the young people. We've got a vehicle workshop which will allow young people to develop their motor vehicle skills. Hopefully, look at developing some MOTs for Behandy.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Get MOT get MOT done that. Need mind doing actually, that'd be really useful.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Um and a horticulture area as well that allow young people to grow that grow their own produce, which we can hopefully then use in the in the catering kitchen. Um so the catering kitchen's um really exciting. Um, it's uh absolutely enormous because it took quite a long time for the architects to fully understand the purpose of what we wanted. So they wanted to build us a kitchen for the proper chefs to use and uh a viewing vocational food room which had a window in, so it meant that our students could watch the real chefs at work. Oh well, that was never our intention, so our students will be the real chefs. Um so as a result of that, we've got this absolutely enormous vocational kitchen which the students will use to prepare their own lunches, um, so giving them a real sense of a real sense of purpose.

SPEAKER_01 2:53

Yeah, that's something that's um you've mirrored from Green, that works really well in Greenacre, doesn't it? I've seen I've seen you kind of doing that over there.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

It it is, it is. So uh Greenacre, the the post-16 students prepare prepare the look the lunches. They also have a life steals cafe um which runs in a similar way. So a lot of the the bespoke features that we're we're having at Trentview have transferred across from the exemplary exemplary practice at Greenacre.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

Um the thing that really struck me um walking around last week and hearing all about it is that this is really embedded in the community. This is about a facility that's gonna benefit everyone. Obviously, we all know about the challenges around um S C and D education, that there's not enough spaces, people struggle to get in, we know about that. But as well as providing more resource in that way, this is this is really a community um facility, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 3:42

It is, it is. We've uh we've already uh been in talks with a uh a holiday club that's again it's a newly established business looking at offering reasonable childcare at you know at a reasonable expense for for children in the holidays, and we've talked with them about how we could they can maybe use the facilities in the summer holidays to offer a fully inclusive and accessible holiday club provision, of which there's very minimal um already within the community. Um the the likes of the hydrotherapy pool, there's no hydrotherapy pools within Skunthope that are able to be used outside of school hours or by students who aren't at the at the school. So we'll be able to work with physios for them to utilise the facilities before school, after school, and on weekends. We'll hire the pool out on a weekend um so that uh children spinning groups will be able to access that as well. Um we've got um external facilities that are available for the community to use. We've deliberately had the markers put in the hall that reflect a butcher court, um and it's fully so it's fully aligned to the the the national butcher standards. Um so bochers are game, it's a bit like bowls um the you've got uh two coloured balls, you have two teams, and you've got to get your ball closest to the to the white ball. Um but obviously it use lots of lots of tactics and and skills. It's a game that's fully inclusive so that uh young people of all abilities are able are able to play. So we'd love a scunthought branch of um National Boxer Club to run from our from our centre. Um and we've deliberately put that those markings on the on the school hall so that uh that'll be used by them.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

That'd be brilliant. Um the other thing that came across on Tuesday when I was there was the the build itself. Um so we've talked about a little bit about how it's going to benefit the community, but it's really really good in terms of environmental standards, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 5:39

It is. So it's the the first passive house build in the country that incorporates a hydrotherapy pool, um, which has been a real challenge. We've had lots of challenging meetings with the with the designers um and the builders. Um the passive house concept is that it's uh effectively a sealed envelope, and every every um degree of temperature is calculated, every single output of of energy is calculated, so it's designed to be as energy efficient as possible. So the numbers of young people within the building have had to be taken into account, the amount of electricity that we'll use, which obviously for some of our young people that's a real challenge because we've got extra resources and equipment that they need, like wheelchairs that need charging, sanding frames that need charging, things that wouldn't necessarily be taken into account in a in a mainstream setting or a mainstream school. Um the hydrotherapy pool itself, because of the heat that it generates, that's been a real challenge to to add into the the the calculations for the for the the heating um within the building. Um so it's quite groundbreaking. Um really challenging. I'm not sure if uh if the current builders will commit to doing another one.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

Yeah, they were they were explaining how tricky some of it is and getting that balance right between the funding of it and all the rest of it, and then still being able to get these these really innovative, exciting Yeah, there's been some real real challenges.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

What's been what's been really heartwarming almost is is that the the the trust obviously battle for for the the needs of the young people um and every single meeting every amount of challenges come back to what those young people need. Now those conversations started off to be quite challenging initially, but actually as the the the DFE and the the architects and the designers have have come to realise what we're what we're fighting for, they've actually become a lot more accommodating. And I think you could tell from from the the young man that showed us round on Tuesday, actually, his his language that he used is completely different to the language that he used a year ago. Um the really grasping and an understanding of of why we're we're fighting the way that we are to make sure that that these young people absolutely have the very best that they can to make their lives much easier because the lives are already extremely challenging.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Isn't it interesting? It's it's like a little microcosm of of society, really, in that most of us don't understand because if you've not lived it, you can't exp you can't really grasp how difficult life can be for some of these young people. But once you do get it, then you really do want the very best that they can possibly have.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

And that's absolutely what we want this this provision to do. We really want to showcase exactly what our young people need, but more importantly, exactly just what they can do. So we're hoping to develop links with employers. There's a there's a real crisis in terms of employment at the moment nationally, um, but also within within Scunthorpe, um, working with employers to look at the profiles of skills that they need developing, um, but also working with them to break down the barriers to help them to understand that actually the young people that we have are able to contribute to their to their firm, to their to their product, end product, and be successful employees. Um so by having the facilities that we've got, we can really showcase just what our young people can achieve that will and and you know ensure that curiosity from employers and hopefully some some successful collaborations and partnerships.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

So, you know, we've we've talked a lot about it being really inclusive. Um, and the thing about the college is it's you know it's embedded in the community, um, which hopefully will help break down some of those barriers so people will see firsthand what what these young people are capable of and what they're all about. Um but building a school from scratch, you've got to get the kind of the ethos and the values right as well, haven't you, internally, as well as just showcasing what we can do. Um you've come up with the four values, haven't you? You've got pride, aspire, resilience, and nurture. Can you tell me a little bit more about that kind of value set?

SPEAKER_00 9:40

So the the values are really, really important, and the values are um attributed to the to the provision. Um, the curriculum will hang on on those values. The values that we want the young people to to develop and and and embrace, but also for the staff team to to function in that way as well. So the the provision will be will be nurturing um to the young people's needs and aspirations. We want to develop learners who are resilient and prepared for today's society, but also a staff body that are resilient and prepared to fight for our young people whilst whilst nurturing the the skills that they need to develop. Um I want to create a community that that we're all proud of, that the staff are proud to be part of, and that the young people are proud to attend an aspiration that that's absolutely essential for our young people. I want them to come to Trent View believing that they can absolutely be the best that they can be, and we will help them to do that. And the same with the staff team. I want I want staff to come and join us who are new to SCND, staff who are experienced, and we'll look at the training that we can provide for them to help them to develop as well.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

Yeah, it's um it's a really interesting kind of area to well, you know you've been in it a long time, haven't you? You know, to teach in. Um it's so different and it's a different approach. But in terms of the challenges on staff, it can be quite intense, can't it? So you do need that really, really clear um support and well-being scheme around them. I know that's something that you were you were really um strong on at Greenacre. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

Absolutely. Um staff well-being is absolutely essential. Um we will be a team, it will be a much smaller team than than I worked with at Greenacre, which I think will will bring some benefits. Um, it will also bring some challenges, but it's really important that that everybody buys into the the vision. Um, we're all in this together. Um and I want the staff to feel that that they're coming somewhere that they can grow and learn and develop as well and and be completely supported.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Yeah, and I'm I'm guessing the um that you are getting lots of interest and and and people wanting, I know you are that people are contacting you now to see if they can come and work at Trentview College. That's really positive, that that's already out there.

SPEAKER_00 12:03

It's really positive. We we've done a number of engagements within the local community recently that's that's kind of snowballed. Um, we've had some really exciting engagement with the local university, um, both colleges and we've we've we've got good links with, and then most recently a parent who works for a chemicals company, which you wouldn't think that that was necessarily something that would would have a link, but they're able to offer support with with training for for the kitchen staff, um signage for the kitchen that would include Macathon signs as well, but also we're we're exploring this notion of um supported internships with with local businesses and and developing those links um is something that will really really support that to happen.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

Yeah, it's um it's it's just gonna be such a fantastic resource, isn't it? And I think um I don't really know what the situation is locally in Scunthought, but we all know that the situation with SEND across the country is that there aren't enough spaces. So I'm guessing the community is just over the moon. People that have got children that that will be benefiting from it must be so so pleased that they finally got this kind of level of of resource on their doorstep.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Yeah, the thing that I'm picking up from uh from discussions with with parents and young people, um, they think it's amazing that the college is coming. Um, but what happens at 19, and that's and that's the next challenge. So, what happens next? So the the three years that we have for young people, um, it's really important we see that as a transition, but it's also really important that we're we're looking at working with other partners to to support that transition at 19 to help them to develop the the provision that young people need to go on to because it's what we don't want to happen is for young people to have a fantastic three years, develop loads of skills, but then not be able to apply them anywhere. So these links with businesses and so you know developing supported internships and employment pathways that will give young people the next step is is really really exciting. One of the other things that that we're doing is our community interest company opening doors, they're going to move over and look at starting one day a week in Scunthorpe, offering a wraparound provision for for some of the young people to see how they how they feel, um to see whether there's a need within the local area, which we're pretty sure that that there will be. Yeah. And looking at how that can expand to support young people to have more meaningful opportunities so that they're not just sitting at home or not just going out and accessing one PA and having that that contact from just the one person. It's really important that we provide the social opportunities for these young people as well as the opportunities for them to demonstrate the skills that they've learned.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

Yeah, and that's it. You know, we we talk about skills shortages. You know, if people can do it, let's let's showcase that and um break down some of those barriers that people might initially, employees might initially have. I do think employees are obviously getting much better, aren't they? They're you know, they're being much more socially aware and understanding what people are capable of.

SPEAKER_00 14:57

They are, they are in in in my experience the the the biggest barrier. It's just that that that fear, that fear of of not really knowing, not really knowing what the right language is, not really knowing what it would look like, what a placement would look like. Um so actually having that engagement with the employers and putting ourselves out there and and holding the hands through it, holding the hands through it and getting them to ask the questions, ask ask us the question that that you're worried about. What is it that you're worried about? Because what we can offer is we can offer support to help to make your company more diverse, more accepting, more more inclusive. Um, develop the you know the the understanding of your staff team um by offering some some training, development.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

There's mutual benefits from from a very ways, and you know, there's there's benefits in terms of um the employees getting being able to use their skills, but for employers as well, not just skill shortages. I'm thinking if you're going for tenders and things like that, and you can demonstrate that you're a really inclusive employer, that gets you extra points in things like tenders. So, from a purely commercial perspective, it's it's a good thing to think about, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 16:06

Absolutely. I don't think it's going to do any businesses any harm. Um thinking about you know ethical an ethical approach. Actually, we we should be creating opportunities for every member of our society, every member of our community, um, because that's the only way that we're actually going to make a difference.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Yeah, of course, everybody should feel like they're valued and have got purpose. It'd be great to see how those links progress with um with local businesses in Scunthorpe and find out how how that how that all pans out. Yeah, you've been really, really welcoming so far. Yeah. Now I want to just ask you a little bit about your journey because obviously I know that you were at Greenacre, but I don't know how did you get into um for a start, how did you decide that you're getting into education, and then how did you decide that you're going to specialise in SEND?

SPEAKER_00 16:50

So my my uh plan was to to become an educational psychologist.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

Um so I went to university, I did my degree, and then I did my PGCE, and then I needed to do two years teaching at that time, and then I I could go go off and and do my educational psychology degree. Um so I I came to Greenacre, I I did two years, um, and decided that actually it was just too, it was it was just too good. I just I just loved I loved being with the students, I loved seeing that progress. Um and I didn't know that I would get that in an educational psychology role. So I ditched that, uh I ditched that idea. Um stayed at Greenacre, I was offered lots and lots of opportunities at Greenacre, so it started with a what was then a management allowance at a management point for PE, worked as a school sports coordinator, which gave me access to uh lots of other schools, lots of mainstream schools, and really allowed me to focus on that inclusive approach within a sporting arena. Was allowed, was given complete autonomy to explore new ventures. So that included establishing the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which included an international um trip as part of a gold, a gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. We took a group of students to to Poland, and that was an inclusive group of uh mainstream students and a couple of students from Greenacre. Um then I became assistant head for the post-16 department, and that's where that's where my passion for for post-16 education came from. Yeah. Um, and then I became deputy head and then most recently head of school. So there was something about Greenacre that that really just really held me. Um it absolutely fulfilled all the ambitions that I had, um, as well as working in a an amazing building um with incredible, incredible leaders and incredible staff. Yeah, um, I've learned so much from from every single person I've worked with at Greenacre. I can imagine, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Because I'm I'd until I worked for Wellspring, I'd never stepped foot into a special school. And I remember last year the first because obviously COVID stopped me being able to visit lots of schools, and then for the first time last year I went to visit Pennyfield, and then I came to Greenacre, and it just blew my mind. It was I didn't know what to expect because I'd never been in one before. But they are so such positive places, and I don't think people get that. If they hear about the the kind of a special school with children who've got you know um serious challenges to overcome to deal with, um stories that you know are upsetting, but these aren't upsetting places to be, they're just full of joy and and positivity, and like you said, about finding the very best that they're capable of, whatever that level is, and it's about getting them there, and it's just lovely. I love visiting special schools now.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

Yeah, there's a real warmth, there's a real warmth, um, like you said, a positivity. Um, I think I don't think you can walk down a corridor at Greenacre without seeing a hundred smiles. No. Um, and that's and then that's just incredible, and it and it was a really difficult decision to to leave, um, but it it had to be a pull. It had to be a pull that was was greater than than what I was getting. Um, and and this to to to set up a new college, um, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, um, and had to take it.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

It really is, isn't it? Yeah. I'm guessing there's been challenges along the way though, is kind of with with setting up something from scratch. What do you what would you say your biggest challenge with it has been so far?

SPEAKER_00 20:19

I think the the biggest challenge has been working with the the architects and designers to help them fully understand what it is that we need, yeah, what it is that our our students need. Um, that it's a college, it's not a school. Um, it needs to have a corporate feel because any other college would have a corporate feel.

SPEAKER_01 20:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

And it needs to mirror, it needs to mirror that. So I think changing the mindsets of the the people who are building um building the the the college has been one of the biggest challenges.

SPEAKER_01 20:50

Yeah, it's always the same, isn't it? It's it's the hearts and mind stuff, kind of bringing people on side is always the always the biggest challenge with any job, really.

unknown 20:57

Right then.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

Now, I'd like to do what we do with all our guests, which is a find out a little bit more about your own school days. So it's a quick fire round, choice of two, you can't get it wrong. Um first up, art and design or PE. Or PE. What would you what would you like best? Athletics. Yeah. English or maths? English. Um school disco or school trip? School trip. What was your favourite school trip? The face when I mentioned school disco. I don't know. I'm worried about what happened at your school disco.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Favourite school trip. Oh, I did a German exchange. Um German exchange to Schwebisch Gemund, which is the the town that's twinned with Barnsley.

SPEAKER_01 21:37

I thought I knew that name. I was like, why do I know that German name? That's why it's twinned with Barnsley.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Is it like Barnsley in Germany or is it? No, completely different, completely different, beautiful, beautiful part of the world.

SPEAKER_01 21:46

Excellent. Um, indoor or outdoor play? Outdoor. See, I quite liked a rainy day play, a bit of jigsaw and that kind of stuff. Um well-planned revision or last-minute cramming.

SPEAKER_00 21:57

Oh well-planned revision with a colour-coded timetable.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Um French or Spanish? Or neither. Neither. So I did German. You did German. Um and finally, my last question, which I ask everybody who comes on. Um, if I could give you a magic wand and you could do absolutely anything in the education system, you could change anything you want, don't worry about money or anything like that. What do you think is one thing you'd change to make education in this country better?

SPEAKER_00 22:26

I I think supporting the inclusion of young people with SEN. And I would I would love a time when we didn't actually need any special schools because young people can have their needs met within a school that's in their their own local community. Now that would be financially extremely challenging. Um but actually why why do why do young people have to get on a bus and travel for an hour or two hours to go somewhere that's not in their locality most often, so that they can have their needs met? Why can't they go to the same school as the boy next door or the girl next door and develop those friendships and we create a society that is fully inclusive because we create friendships and we create connections and we support young people to stay within their communities and develop that understanding around what it is that those young people actually need.

SPEAKER_01 23:23

Yeah, and allow people to see it firsthand and understand. And yeah, absolutely, wouldn't it be brilliant? Yeah. Thank you so much for joining me today. Um, it's been lovely to find out a bit more about Trent View. I'm really excited about seeing it open next September. Um, I'm sure lots and lots and lots of people are. Um I'd love to have you back on kind of once it's up and running, and we can have a chat about how it's all going, whether you've got your MOT done yet. Um next time I'll be joined by Katrina Lowry, founder of NeuroTeachers, who'll be explaining what she does to support autistic and other neurodivergent learners through teaching, training, and mentoring. Until then, thanks for listening and hope you'll join us next time.