EACH week, the Gazette will be visiting a different school to take a look at some of the ways pupils are being encouraged to learn in their classroom.

This week, we paid a visit to New Siblands School om Thornbury to find out what's been cooking in the kitchen and why the students welcomed some special visitors into their classrooms.

Students at New Siblands School, based on two sites at Gillingstool (primary) and Easton Hill Road (secondary), have had a busy week and been host to some special guests amidst their learning.


The special school, which supports young people with severe or profound multiple learning difficulties, was visited by three paramedics to give secondary school students certificates of praise for their behaviour after an incident took place days before.


Head teacher Andrew Buckton said: “We had an incident at the school last week, which led to us having to evacuate the building and students from their classes.


“The emergency services were called to respond to reports of a smell in some of the kitchens and the day was a bit of a disruption.


“The South West Ambulance Service paramedics have been speaking to some of the children about how well they reacted in such a disruptive environment, and giving certificates of praise for their behaviour.


“Some children have then presented the paramedics with thank you cards in return.


“It was a way for them to meet the paramedics in a nicer environment.”


In the school’s Life Skill Centre, praise was given for another reason, as Sixth Form students baked up a treat in the kitchen.


Sixth Form student Richard Maggs, 19, cooked pasta bake and chicken and had a go at baking shortbread in the centre, using maths to measure ingredients as well as practising food preparation.
Students are encouraged to grow their own vegetables in the school garden, and then prepare and cook them in the centre.


Richard said: “I have cooked spaghetti bolognese before, and garlic bread and sausages.


“Sometimes it is difficult but I like cooking. We have cooked rhubarb, which we have grown in the garden before and my favourite food to cook is burgers.”


Students also go shopping for ingredients with help from staff and design and produce their own menus.


Mr Buckton added: “We always have a special focus on individual needs. We want the young people to leave us as independent as possible and to be as prepared as they can be for their futures, through our small classes and high staff ratio.


“We are able to personalise the children’s individual learning in different ways, such as sensory support and giving the support to meet health needs.


“The cooking class is an example – some students are unable to cook in this way due to having severe learning difficulties or autism, so we give them classes with a focus on sensory learning.


“At New Siblands, it’s never about what you can’t do, but what you can do. It is a joy and a privilege to work here.”