Kirklees Academy
A warm and friendly welcome to Pivot Kirklees
Katie Lockwood
Headteacher, Kirklees
At Pivot Kirklees, our young people are the focus of everything we do, and we pride ourselves on creating a caring, happy and nurturing environment for them to learn, thrive and flourish.
We are very proud of our school and I am honoured to be Headteacher here. Our firm belief that all children deserve better is the driving force that powers the tireless work of all our staff to deliver a responsive and improving provision, every day.
As a staff team, we challenge ourselves to demonstrate our school values of being Positive, Resilient, Different, Passionate and Collaborative in everything we do. They are the way we work, and the people we are. Modelling these values allows our young people to share and develop them. We do this to prepare our learners for the next step in their journey, taking our values into the wider world.
For our learners, our provisions and curriculums are focused on social, emotional and academic development, whatever their starting points. We build knowledge and skills across a broad range of subjects and activities that allows our learners to feel successful and take positive steps forward in their journey to adulthood. Confidence is key for them to be the best version of themselves.
We work closely with the whole community, and particularly with home, as we know that in partnership, we are stronger. We strive to keep communication regular, clear and informative, ensuring that home feels included and valued in the education process.
By working together, we can ensure that all students feel safe, enjoy their time at school, make excellent progress and leave us with the determination to lead successful and fulfilling lives.
If you would like to know more about our Academy, please get in touch.
Kirklees - Technology House
Our Technology House provision offers full time, school based support for neurodiverse young people in Key Stages 3, 4 & 5, who have a wide range of complex needs that are typically supported by an Education Health Care Plan.
This provision offers places for up to 48 young people in 6 classes. Each class has 3 adults supporting learning, which includes a teacher and two learning mentors, who are all specialists in this area of special educational needs. Our lessons are active, experiential and fun. We proactively plan sessions and carefully consider the environment to ensure that all our learners feel safe, included and valued.
We focus on the future, giving the learner opportunities to gain a variety of qualifications so they can follow personalised routes to education, training or employment. Our learners study GCSEs in English Language, Mathematics, Science, Physics, Biology, Geography, Art or Business, and vocational qualifications in ICT, Media, Employability, Relationships & Health, Creative Crafts, Food or Sport. Learners also study subjects that are designed to enhance their life chances but are not examined such as Zones of Regulation and Preparation for Adulthood. In addition, learners may select supported offsite options in construction, equine studies, motor vehicle engineering, multi-trade skills, and motorcycle maintenance to enhance their knowledge and skills.
We work closely with learners and their home to provide support based on their individual needs. Our key workers are a named contact for families. Key workers make regular contact with home, share progress reports every term and work on personal development with the learner.
Kirklees - Salus House
Our Salus House provision offers full time, school based support for neurodiverse young people in Key Stages 2, 3, 4 & 5, who have a wide range of complex needs that are typically supported by an Education Health Care Plan.
This provision offers places for up to 48 young people in 6 classes. Each class has 3 adults supporting learning, which includes a teacher and two learning mentors, who are all specialists in this area of special educational needs.. Our lessons are calm, quiet and full of well communicated routine. We proactively plan social development sessions and provide a low sensory environment to ensure that all our learners feel safe, included and valued.
We focus on the future, giving the learner opportunities to gain a variety of qualifications so they can follow personalised routes to education, training or employment. Our learners study GCSEs in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Physics, Biology, Geography, Art or Business, and vocational qualifications in ICT, Media, Employability, Relationships & Health, Creative Crafts, Health & Social Care, Food or Sport. Learners also study subjects that are designed to enhance their life chances but are not examined such as Zones of Regulation and Preparation for Adulthood. In addition, learners may select supported offsite options in construction, equine studies, music, performing arts, motor vehicle engineering, multi-trade skills, and motorcycle maintenance to enhance their knowledge and skills.
We work closely with learners and their home to provide support based on their individual needs. Our key workers are a named contact for families. Key workers make regular contact with home, share progress reports every term and work on personal development with the learner.
Recently, we have added a Primary (Year 3-6) age Day 6 group at Salus House. This provision starts slowly in one or two sessions a week and builds to a daily session, as the learner is ready and settled. The learning activities are project based, with a focus on key skills in academic, personal and social areas. The main focus is on assessment to ensure that an Education Health Care Plan is in place if the learner does not already have one or to review the existing Education, Health and Care Plan. By completing these two elements the learner is supported in their transition to their next school, where they will have the correctly identified provision for them to be successful.
Pivot 6
At Pivot 6, we offer specialist support and learning for 14-16 year olds who have been permanently excluded from mainstream school. We offer core academics of English, Maths and Science alongside our personal, social and health curriculum, with a clear focus on developing social and emotional skills.
Our aim in Pivot 6 is to support learners academically and socially to prepare them for transition back into mainstream school or other next steps. Initially, our offer focuses on working with learners and their families to rebuild good learning habits, remove barriers to education and rekindle the understanding of how important education is to successful futures.
Our work in this phase may include assessments that will contribute to an Education Health Care assessment request. This plan will support learners who need additional support to engage with and be successful at learning, either in mainstream, at a specialist school or in an alternative provision.
Learners are referred by local authorities as part of their Day 6 duty
Pivot Outreach Programme (POP)
The Pivot Outreach Programme (POP) is a specialist provision for 14-17 year old learners with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) who have been out of an education setting for a period of at least 6 months. We cater for a variety of needs, but particularly Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH).
Initially, our offer focuses on building relationships, self-esteem and removing barriers to learning. Through a collaborative and developmental approach, we support learners to build confidence and motivation that enables us to build a bespoke curriculum around them.
We work closely with learners and families to build their personalised package which stretch and develop their skills and abilities, at a carefully planned pace in order to maximise opportunities for success. Our curriculum offer focuses on core academics, preparation for adulthood, Zones of Regulation, PSHCE and individual learner interests.
Referrals come via Case Work Officers from SEN teams
Alongside their education, learners have access to:
- Climbing
- Trampolining
- Horse Riding
- Animal Care
- Computing
- Horticulture
- SMSC
- Theatre Visits
- Museum Visits
- And so much more.
Because Children Deserve Better, we give them the opportunity to find their ‘thing’. With access to a wide variety of extracurricular activities, our students develop new skills, experience their potential and explore their prospects.
Find out our Term Dates for this year
In the recent ISI inspection report, Pivot Academy Kirklees demonstrated ‘significant strength’ in Leadership and Management.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) recently inspected Pivot Academy Kirklees and noted that Leadership & Management were a significant strength of the organisation: Directors, Leaders and staff work relentlessly in the best interest of the pupils' wellbeing.
See Our Most Recent Report Here 2024 Material Change Report 2023 Material Change ReportThe ISI framework resonated more with our visions and values. At the core of the inspection are four areas:
- Pupils physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing - this is fundamental to our way of working.
- Pupils education, training and recreation - this means we have a curriculum that meets our pupils needs.
- Leadership and management with the overarching responsibility of leadership and management to actively promote the wellbeing of pupils. Pupils social and economic well being and contribution to society which fits with our preparing for adulthood curriculum focus.
- The ISI main focus is to ensure that the wellbeing of young people is paramount and is at the centre of the framework and also the new inspection regime. Pivot embraced this supportive and inclusive approach were we worked collectively with ISI to support the whole of our school community.
83
Students have been supported by us this year alone. Academic year 22/23.
0
Exclusions or suspensions
100%
Of the KS4 learners passed GCSE Maths and English Language in the academic year 22/23
Travelling via public transport?
Here’s how to reach us.
Train & Bus times/routes may vary. All times are estimates.
Train & Bus times/routes may vary. All times are estimates.
Check out our Leeds Academies, see how you can apply or view our online resources.
Working together with
Our partners are essential to our success, sharing our vision and values as we collaborate to achieve our goals, and provide the best opportunities for the children.
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse. Please click here to find out more.
