The  Willoughby  School

The Willoughby School opened in South Road, Bourne, in 1980, as a special school catering for students aged from two to 19 with learning difficulties. It has grown significantly since then in terms of pupils, staff and buildings, culminating in a major rebuilding programme and refurbishment in 2005.

By the year 2008 there were 73 pupils aged from two to 19 on the roll with 50 staff, ranging from teachers to assistants and support members. The school also works with children from birth with an outreach service and a number of these boys and girls attend short weekly sessions.

Most of the children have severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties and some have challenging behaviour, degenerative conditions and multi sensory impairments. Pupils come from a wide catchment area around Bourne and students also travel in daily from other Lincolnshire towns including Spalding, Stamford and the Deepings, while training and support is offered to schools in those areas which have pupils with special needs.

The Willoughby School is split into two departments, upper and lower, and is constantly developing with the aim of providing each student with a curriculum tailored to their specific needs. Staff currently specialise in a number of subjects including autism, speech and language, multi-sensory impairment, behaviour, religious education, early years education and art. 

The rebuilding programme of 2005 was designed to double the size of the premises at a cost of £1.2 million. The bulk of the work was carried out over a period of 17 months and enabled the school roll to be extended. The expansion included the addition of four new classrooms, specialist suites and facilities for teaching the arts. Head teacher Adam Booker said that the work had made an excellent school even better. "The new facilities enhance the prospects of every child who comes here to learn", he said. "The people of Bourne will also benefit because we plan to make some of these facilities available to the wider community when the occasion arises."

The Friends of Willoughby School, consisting of parents and volunteers, provides first class support throughout the year through a fund raising committee and plans are going ahead to remodel a large adjoining paddock into an environmental area that has just seen the development of a living willow green room. The site also has a vegetable patch cultivated by the students, a pond and a wheelchair access route leading to a raised viewing platform. 

The school continues to develop with new ideas and recent initiatives include the formation of a Breakfast Club and the launching of a web site about its activities on the Internet. Then in 2010, it was granted specialist status in order to qualify for additional funding to develop their work, not only with pupils but also in the community and at six other schools in the locality. In addition, links have also been established with schools in Turkey, Norway, Germany and Sweden and a group of teachers recently visited Pretoria in South Africa where they made valuable links with schools that may be assisted in the future.

"I am very proud to be head of this team", said Mr Booker. "The staff here deserve many plaudits. Willoughby is a fascinating place but also proud to be among the other high performing schools in Bourne. How many towns have schools as good as ours? I don't think there are many."

On Tuesday 12th December 2012, the school completed its Olympic celebrations by burying a time capsule in the grounds filled with items relating to this eventful year to be opened in 100 years time. The capsule contained photographs of the two Olympic torches visiting the school and the torch passing through Bourne, activities at the school during the previous twelve months and other relevant newspaper cuttings. It was made by engineer David Fox and inscribed by Geoff Lewis. “We thought it appropriate to commemorate a brilliant year at the school as a record for future generations", said Mr Booker.
 

PHOTO ALBUM

A new sensory garden for the pupils was opened at the school on Friday 25th May 2012 when guests gathered for the unveiling. They included families and friends of pupils past and present together with supporters from local firms and organisations who were welcomed by head teacher, Adam Booker, and members of his staff. "It was a pleasure to show everyone how we have benefited from their hard work and expertise and their donations to provide this great space, " he said. A sensory garden is a plot specifically created to be accessible and enjoyable to visitors, both disabled and non-disabled, providing individual and combined sensory opportunities for the user such that they may not normally experience and containing scented plants, water and other features designed for sound and touch. The sensory garden will be used by all pupils, allowing even those with the most complex needs to access the outside areas. The space has been designed to be explored using all of the senses in a motivating and fun way. "It was a marvellous morning and a joy to be able to thank all concerned for their help and terrific fund raising efforts", said Mr Booker. "We are privileged to enjoy such goodwill and wonderful support in what has been a brilliant community effort.” In the picture (left to right) Ben Parrish, Shanice Johnson, Jenny Waddington, Daniel Taylor-Huddlestone, Leah Elliott, Adam Booker, Daniel Slipper and Alex Sismey.

A double celebration took place at the school on Tuesday 23rd October 2012 when the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Helen Powell, paid a visit to mark a "good" grading issued by Ofsted and for the efforts of pupils and staff in the East Midlands in Bloom competition in which the town won a silver gilt award. Judges in the competition said that the highlight of their tour of the town on July 10th was their visit to the school which has built a sensory garden, maintained the grounds to a high standard and many pupils are currently gaining qualifications in horticulture. The mayor presented the special Judges' Award and gave her congratulations for the recent Ofsted inspection. Mr Booker said: “Our pupils, staff, parents and governors have done an amazing job in showing just what a great place Willoughby School is. After nearly ten years of headship I am constantly surprised by the achievements of our staff who deserve all of the credit for our report as they work so hard and diligently with some extremely challenging children and young people on a daily basis.” In the picture: The mayor presenting the East Midlands in Bloom award to headteacher Adam Booker with pupils Daniel and Shanise.

REVISED DECEMBER 2012
 

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