Aurora Eccles School

Welcome to our Special Needs Secondary School in Quidenham, Norfolk

Take a virtual tour here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=BV9VRe6dfQj

As Principal of the site that Aurora Eccles shares with its primary counterpart, Aurora White House School, I am delighted to introduce you to our wonderful school community.

It is our aim to provide an environment in which young people can achieve their potential and make meaningful, informed choices about every aspect of their lives. Through our highly skilled teams of teaching, support and therapeutic staff, we offer personalised, tailored interventions to help students of all ages make genuine progress in their academic, social and emotional development.

We are proud to be recognised as the ‘go to provider’ for the local authority here in Norfolk; the trust that is placed in us, by families and professionals alike, is testament to the quality and scope of education and support that we offer to every student in our care. We hope you enjoy reading about us; and we look forward to welcoming you soon.

Arabella Hardy, Site Principal, Aurora Eccles and Aurora White House School

Our School

Aurora Eccles is an independent, specialist day school for students aged 11-18 who have experienced difficulties in mainstream settings, either as a result of specific learning difficulties or more complex communication and interaction difficulties (including those associated with autism spectrum conditions).

We have high expectations for all our students and we encourage them to expect more for themselves. We offer a personalised package of education and support to each student, designed around the needs identified in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Our ambition is to give our students all the skills they need to lead an independent, fulfilling adult life. We do this not only by providing opportunities for them to achieve academically, but also by helping them develop the practical skills necessary to manage their own physical, emotional and social wellbeing and to understand their place in the world.

The Aurora Eccles journey

When a young person arrives at Aurora Eccles, we commit to exploring ways of helping them fulfil their potential in every area of their life.

We begin by rebuilding their faith in school and education, by creating an environment where they feel safe and able to learn. We take a positive approach to behaviour management, encouraging the development of a strong sense of identity while promoting effective interaction with others.

Individual pastoral support and care for each student is provided by their form teacher, who also has regular contact with their parents and carers to offer support, guidance and a link to other staff and departments. For students requiring higher levels of support, provision can be made – either full time or periodically – to facilitate participation in school activities.

Throughout their time with us, students have an opportunity to achieve a range of qualifications, from pre-entry-level certificates through to higher-grade GCSEs, depending on their needs, abilities and interests.

By the time they leave us, each of our students will be in a position to make meaningful, informed choices about their own future, whether that is by accessing further education, or through appropriate vocational training or employment.

Our Facilities

Students at Aurora Eccles benefit from access to facilities including a music room, science laboratories, cookery room, and technology and art studios, and enjoy regular use of our extensive sports and recreation facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, large sports field, activity centre and climbing wall.

All students take part in a range of individual and team sports, with both inter-house and external fixtures against other schools planned regularly throughout the academic year.

Set in 34 acres of beautiful countryside, Aurora Eccles also has a wealth of exciting outdoor learning spaces for students, including an area of magnificent private woodland, which is used for our Outdoor and Woodland Learning (OWLs) programme.

Incorporating a range of adventurous activities delivered by qualified Forest School practitioners, the OWLs programme offers students the freedom to be the architects of their own learning, all within a natural environment.

The learning experience for students at Aurora Eccles does not end at the school gate. All our students participate in school visits, trips and community projects to bring the curriculum subjects to life, and are encouraged to support our staff in organising them.

From Year 10 onwards, our students also have the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, through which they can experience new challenges and further develop their communication and teamwork skills.

Our Curriculum

Students at Aurora Eccles enjoy a broad curriculum that mirrors the experience of their mainstream peers, based around the core subjects of English, mathematics, science and humanities along with specialist subjects including computing and ICT, art and multimedia, and design and technology.

We also offer all our students opportunities to develop non-academic ‘life skills’ such as cookery, gardening and construction.

Our older students have the option to complete the ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE), a substantial, nationally recognised qualification in skills development.

The CoPE enables students to practise, develop and demonstrate six important skills that are required for success in higher education, training or employment: teamwork, problem solving, discussion, research, oral presentation and self-management.

Integrated therapy

As well as academic and skill development opportunities, we offer a range of therapeutic interventions designed to help our students overcome barriers to participation in education.

Discrete interventions, including speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, are delivered by our on-site team of highly skilled clinical staff with support from visiting therapy specialists.

These interventions sit alongside a classroom experience which integrates therapeutic approaches on a one-to-one, small group and whole class basis.

Our Outcomes

We are proud to list evidence of the progress and performance of our students (for the previous academic year) below:

· Pupils achieved an average of 6.5 qualifications 

· 100% of pupils passed Level 1 Vocational Pathway 

· 83% of pupils achieved a Maths qualification, with one pupil achieving Grade 9