WELCOME TO DURHAM TRINITY SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE

WELCOME TO DURHAM TRINITY SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE

Welcome to Durham Trinity School and Sports College. We are a generic special school educating pupils 2-19 years of age, who are autistic or have profound, moderate, severe or complex learning difficulties. Some pupils also have additional medical, physical, sensory, linguistic or behavioural challenges. All pupils at Durham Trinity School and Sports College have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

We are situated on the outskirts of Durham City Centre. Durham Trinity is a relatively new purpose-built school, we are continuously adapting the physical environment to ensure we are meeting the changing needs of the school population. During the summer holidays (2023) we added an additional classroom in our specialist autistic provision, by removing our science lab, because there is no longer a formal pathway at Durham Trinity School. The pupils have access to specialist rooms and facilities such as a sensory room, hydrotherapy pool, food technology, fitness suite, Create and Make room and a newly furbished (May 2024) soft play room.

To enhance the curriculum and allow pupils to thrive in their interests and strengths, whilst encouraging them to take risks, we relaunched our Friday afternoon enrichment activities in November 2023; to include additional clubs such as Bush Craft, Dance and Duke of Edinburgh. Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) was relaunched in January 2024, which led to the appointment of a Play Lead to develop the school grounds, resource provision, support staff development whilst ensuring health and safety is followed. Further developments in 2024/25 will include creating opportunities to extend the school day.

In May 2023 we launched our new Curriculum Toolkit to support the delivery of our 3-curriculum pathways to ensure the needs of the diverse school population are met academically, emotionally and physically; whilst providing challenge and support to ensure they are prepared for the next stage in their development, and preparing them for life. Please click on this link to access more information about our Curriculum; including Reading, Careers, Relationship Sex Education (RSE) and Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC).

We are a Sports College, providing an excellent provision that develops pupils’ physical skills and mental wellbeing, educating them about leading a healthy lifestyle, whilst having fun! Pupils have opportunities to access non-competitive and competitive sporting activities throughout the school year. In 2022-23 we introduced our Gifted and Talented Sports Group who access additional PE lessons, experiencing different sports with a number of specialist coaches and staff. This provision will continue into 2024/25.

We provide a Further Education Unit (FEU- Post 16) on site where the excellent provision continues until they are 19 years of age. The students have access to their own common room with many opportunities to access the community, to prepare them for their next stage in life. However, due to demand for school places we are currently working with Durham County Council to identify and provide an additional site for our Post 16 provision.

Our greatest resource is the staff. They are supportive and highly skilled in SEND, supporting pupils throughout the school day to ensure they achieve their goals and

become as independent as possible. Together with pupils, families and other agencies, we work together to ensure the best outcomes for our pupils.

More information can be found about our SEND report, SEND provision and the teaching, learning and curriculumin the SEND section on the website. Also available in Key Information is specific staff to contact if you require further information or support whilst your young person attends Durham Trinity. Please click on the link to see our Key Information page.

There is a new section on our website to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing, click on the link here to explore this web page which signposts young people, parent and carers to additional information.

For parents/carers considering our school as a future option for their young person, you are encouraged to contact school and make arrangements to visit our school. We would be delighted to meet you and answer any queries you may have, whilst there is further information in Key Information; School Admissions.

For existing parents/carers, we hope the website gives you additional information about the curriculum and supports your young person whilst attending Durham Trinity School and Sports College.

If you require a paper copy of any of the policies or documents that are on our website, please contact Louise Hindmarch at the school office on 0191 386 4612.

Mrs Rachel Grimwood

Headteacher

September 2024