Churchward School, part of Brunel Academies Trust, is a unique special free school in Swindon supporting young people aged 11-19 years with autism and associated social communication difficulties.
The school opened its doors in 2018 with a vision of providing life-changing opportunities for some of the most challenged young people in the community. With a bespoke curriculum and therapeutic packages as well as highly specialised staff, Churchward equips students with the skills they need to make appropriate life choices, achieve their aspirations, and fulfil their potential.
Now a Thrive School of Excellence, Churchward has seen significant improvements in students’ emotional wellbeing and social development, creating firm foundations for academic success.
A holistic approach to learning
In the fortunate position of starting a brand new school, the Churchward team were looking for a solution that supported students’ social and emotional development as part of a holistic approach to learning.
Embedding Thrive from the beginning
In September 2018, Churchward School opened its doors and Thrive was implemented straight away. The alignment of the school’s values and Thrive’s principles, both prioritising students’ emotional wellbeing, meant that staff felt motivated to embrace the Approach in their practice from the get-go.
Key steps Churchward School took to embedding the Thrive Approach included:
- Staff visiting other Thrive schools to see the Approach in action and learn best practice.
- Termly training for all colleagues to ensure consistency and up-to-date skills.
- Thrive-Online assessments carried out four times a year for all students to monitor progress and adapt action plans.
- Individual and group Thrive sessions to address students’ social and emotional development needs.
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The Impact
Alexandra Soares Silva, Teacher and Lead Thrive Licensed Practitioner at Churchward School, shared the impact Thrive has had at the school so far: “The biggest difference Thrive has made in our school is the significant improvement in students' emotional wellbeing and social development. We firmly believe that academic achievement and emotional wellbeing go hand in hand. Without the ability to regulate emotions and feel safe, learning simply can't happen.
The Thrive Approach helps us create the foundation students need to thrive emotionally, so they can also succeed academically. We have created a nurturing environment where students feel safe and supported and this has led to increased resilience, better emotional regulation and stronger relationships among peers and staff.”
The school has also seen remarkable individual transformations, such as students overcoming severe anxiety and school refusal to actively engage in learning and pursue qualifications like GCSEs and A-Levels and moving on to university.
The role of Thrive-Online
Thrive-Online plays a crucial role in supporting the school’s success. It enables precise tracking of students' emotional and social development, facilitates tailored interventions, and provides robust evidence for leadership decisions, inspections and EHCP referrals.
One notable success story involves a student who had struggled with emotional dysregulation due to unsuccessful placements in the past. After targeted Thrive interventions, they began sharing positive experiences at home and even reconnected emotionally with their family – hugging their mum and saying “I love you” for the first time in years.
Thrive School of Excellence
To recognise the extraordinary impact Churchward School is having on its students and the wider community, the school has been named as a Thrive School of Excellence. The award is the highest level of achievement in Thrive’s Ambassador School scheme, which shines a light on settings showcasing outstanding mental health and wellbeing support.
Delighted to receive the award, Dave Dearsley, Head Teacher at Churchward School, said: “Being awarded the Thrive School of Excellence validates our whole-school approach to support the holistic development of our students. Through open communication and a shared vision, we have built a strong approach focused on individual development and personalised intervention as opposed to implementing a generic one size fits all system or model. This recognition encourages us to keep improving our practices and deepens our commitment to nurturing a safe and supportive environment in which all students can thrive and succeed.
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I extend my sincere thanks to the dedicated staff, supportive parents, and incredible students who trusted in this approach from the very beginning. Their collective effort and belief in our mission have made this achievement possible. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to the principles of the Thrive Approach, ensuring that our school remains a beacon of excellence in both education and emotional wellbeing.”
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