ABOUT US

Astley Park is a co-educational day school responsible for the education of around 130 students between the ages of 4-16 years. Most of our students have a Statement of Special Educational Needs relating to a broad spectrum of learning difficulties.

The main building is a well-maintained, purpose built single-storey structure with excellent facilities. The classrooms are generously proportioned and well equipped. We have a Science Laboratory, Information Technology Room, Design Technology Workshop, Food Technology Room, and an expanding Library. Each classroom is now equipped with an interactive whiteboard with digital projectors. There is a purpose built Leavers’ Unit with teaching, social, kitchen and technology areas.

There are extensive playing fields, a wildlife conservation area developed by parents, staff and students, a macadamised playground which is marked out for various team games, a games court with rubber safety surface, and a ‘quiet area’ with benches for those who prefer to sit and chat, read a book, or play hopscotch. The environment is well cared for and the buildings and grounds undergo a planned maintenance programme.

Aims

• To provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum to include the National Curriculum, which encourages each student to acquire knowledge, skills and understanding relevant to adult life, the world of work and leisure;
• To raise the achievement levels of all students;
• To enable students to attain their maximum level of independence and self-sufficiency in society;
• To develop self-esteem and respect for the views of others;
• To develop a love of learning and confidence in the ability to make use of educational opportunities in the future.

• The importance of high expectations. The acceptance of some disappointments;
• The need for hard work to make worthwhile gains;
• The right of the individual to hold different views to oneself;
• The need for shared values of behaviour to enable individuals to lead productive and fulfilled lives.

At Astley Park School we give all of our students access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum that includes full National Curriculum entitlement.

The balance of our curriculum is purposely weighted towards Literacy, Numeracy and personal and social development, as these are the crucial areas, which are usually highlighted in the statement. We have invested large amounts of both time and money in developing the expertise of our staff and assembling a range of resources to ensure that we can deliver this part of our curriculum.

Our classes are kept as small as possible, enabling individual attention and small group work to be available to our students.

The curriculum is seen as more than just a collection of academic subjects, it also includes the development of personal and inter-personal skills to encourage the development of confident, articulate, well-adjusted, sensitive and independent young people.

Sporting activities are an important aspect of school life for all students at Astley Park, not only for those who consider themselves athletic or talented in this area. Yes, some of our students do develop into competent sportsmen and women, but more importantly is our desire to develop notions of team spirit and sportsmanship.

We try to offer a range of team and individual activities to extend the skills and experiences of our students, and hopefully to make physical exercise a pleasure not a duty. Few of us will ever make the Olympics but we can all engage in physical activity, which brings not only a degree of fitness but also relaxation in doing something we enjoy.

The range of activities offered includes swimming, football, netball, running, dance, cricket, and gymnastics.