About the Centre
A photo of the outside of the building
Chessbrook Education Support Centre is a wonderfully dynamic and inspirational organisation which has a reputation for being firm but fair with students who previously have not been able to cope in a mainstream setting. Staff who work at Chessbrook have many years experience in managing and encouraging students to believe in themselves and their future.
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At Chessbrook we have a constantly positive ethos with the Every Child Matters agenda underpinning all of the work we do. We aim to begin this process the minute a student and their families set foot over the threshold and maintain this beyond their departure from us. We have a focus of teaching and learning as a vehicle for raising self esteem and changing behaviour. We try to demonstrate to the students that we are investing in them and their futures and want to improve their life chances.
On arrival at Chessbrook we aim to find out as much as possible about a student very quickly and as part of the induction process we run a battery of standardised assessments which indicate underlying level of ability, basic literacy and numeracy skills, self esteem and the Hertfordshire Behaviour Questionnaire. New students are taught primarily by subject coordinators who are expected to make an assessment of a students’ current level of attainment and set initial targets for improvement.
We offer a broad relevant and stimulating curriculum. For many students this is a temporary placement until they are found other schools. For some, particularly in Key Stage 4 it is not always possible to find an alternative placement and so they can expect to stay with us for the whole of year 10. We aim to support our pupils through the following ways:
Key Stage 3 curriculum offers Maths, English and Science, PHSE and Citizenship, Humanities, PE, Art and Food Technology with access to mentoring and counselling.
We have two Key Stage 4 programmes. One offers GCSE Maths, English, Science and Art or Food with PSHE and Citizenship, one day a week at college and one day a week on work experience, access to mentoring or counselling. Our second (vocational) Key Stage 4 programme offers one day a week on a motor bike project, one day a week at college, one day a week on a life skills programme, one day at work experience and one day personalised learning (maths and English) or 2 days following either an Early years Childcare course or a football coaching course, both offering contextualised learning in literacy and numeracy.
Our Induction programme for new students offers Maths, English, Science, PE, PSHE, Food and Art.
We run Nurture classes for Primary aged students throughout the year supported by mentoring for parents and in the summer term, transition support for those students going from year 6 into year 7.
We deliver Outreach support to all secondary schools in the locality and to Primary schools on request as a preventative measure to permanent exclusion. Outreach is delivered to students on an individual or group basis using methods such as Circle of Friends and is aimed at those students who need support to overcome difficulties such as transition, bullying, self esteem, bereavement etc.
We offer integration support to all students who are rejoining mainstream provision, going to college or work by attending meetings, liaising with parents, accompanying students to lessons and any other support that either student, parent or school thinks is required.
We work in collaboration with 3 local secondary schools to enhance our curriculum (ICT, PE and dance/drama).