About our school

Set in beautiful private grounds, surrounded by the Surrey Hills, Pathways Education offers a unique, safe and calm environment for young people aged 9 onwards, with special educational needs, who are at risk of NEET (Not in Education, Employment and Training).

We are fully inclusive and our aim is that all our students achieve their potential; personally, socially, emotionally, and academically in all areas of the curriculum. This is underpinned by our school vision and values. We are confident that collectively our approach will enable pupils to thrive and achieve holistically.

Pathways’ values: Wellbeing, Connection and Empowerment, are the standards that guide our whole community and form the foundation of our school culture. Our values inform our approach to learning and its content, with wellbeing and student re-engagement in learning at the heart of what we do.

Our curriculum is designed to provide opportunities that may not have previously existed, ensuring our students are ready to flourish and be ready for the next part of their journey. We offer Project Based Learning alongside the core subjects of Maths, English, and PSHE in KS2 and KS3. As students move into KS4 they have the opportunity to work towards accreditation where appropriate. Our curriculum is underpinned by the six key skills for 21st Century Living (Communication, Citizenship, Creativity, Collaboration, Character, and Critical Thinking) with a strong focus on Positive Psychology and Wellbeing.

Through our outreach work, students have regular access to a range learning and employment opportunities within the local area, where careers learning is contextualised. The school has the provision of a music studio, and access to beautiful private grounds, equine facilities, The Cookie Bar coffee shop, and the Cookie Bus (a mobile version of the shop).

We are ambitious for our young people, what they can do, and what they can achieve.

Our approach

Our approach is about placing the young person at the front and centre of their story. We provide an environment that is comfortable and listen with empathy and care to their thoughts, needs, passions and aspirations. We recognise that our young people may associate a difficulty or challenge with a previous education setting. All the staff are committed to ensuring we provide a positive and caring environment in which young people feel appropriately supported.

As an organisation, we seek to meet the needs of young people with SEND who have disengaged or disappeared from the educational system by:

reconnecting and building trust with young people
helping build young people’s confidence so they can successfully engage fully with education, with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) that is fit for purpose
strengthening understanding of neurodiversity and standards of inclusive education across schools
driving social change to rebalance society for those with SEND.

In our day-to-day practice:

We build a connection with each young person and empower them by focussing on wellbeing.
We teach using Trauma-informed practices and tailor learning and the school day to take into account individual Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.
We model positive interactions forming meaningful relationships with each built on compassion and kindness.
We encourage peer collaboration, working around projects of interest with the teacher facilitating deeper learning.
We seek to equip the young people with skills and knowledge ready for 21st century living by experiencing real-world working environments and emerging technologies.
We inspire our young to develop a love of learning, the self-belief to take risks and the confidence to achieve anything they set their mind to.