Published: 1st August 2022

“When I first came here, I loved it straight away as everything was so chilled. I couldn’t believe I could call teachers by their first name! Everyone knows everyone, so it feels like a family.”

It’s fair to say that New Barn School has transformed 15-year-old Gracie’s education. She previously attended a local mainstream school but felt they didn’t support or understand her autism. After three years at New Barn, Gracie doesn’t even want to break up for summer! Music and art are two of her favourite subjects, although with classes usually limited to five pupils, Gracie has progressed not just in creative subjects but core academic lessons too. As she prepared for the school’s summer concert, where she was due to perform songs by Paloma Faith and Oasis, Gracie told AAH how the flexible approach to the day suits her. 

“The teachers don’t mind if you need a break,” she said. “Sometimes I go to the music room and sit in on a lesson there. I had a bad experience at my last school, but I love it here and don’t even want the holidays to come as I’ve made some really good friends here, which I’ve never had before.”

OH, THE HUMANITIES!

Tucked away in a rural location on Guildford Road, Broadbridge Heath, New Barn is a purpose-built school for children and young people on the autism spectrum. Currently, it caters for pupils aged 7 - 19, with both primary and secondary provision. As well as the core subjects of English, mathematics and science, it offers art, music, PE and PSHCE. As pupil numbers have grown, so has the curriculum, with humanities (history and geography) added in recent years. 

Developing vocational skills is important too. Pupils are taught computing in a modern ICT suite and develop their culinary skills in a food technology room, with cooking and nutrition lessons a favourite of many. Indeed, AAH was treated to a delicious pasta bake lunch, served by Leo, one of the pupils. 

Learning Teaching Assistants (LSAs) play a key role, as do the therapy team. Geoff Draper (Managing Director and Acting Head Teacher) recalls a popular quote that reflects the diverse nature of the pupils: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.” With autism being such a broad term, pupils are assessed individually and given Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Additional learning needs are addressed accordingly, with occupational, art, music, language and speak therapists providing specialist support. 

Statistics suggest the school makes a difference to the lives of its pupils, says Geoff. “Many who join us were previously at a school with 1000 or more pupils and they weren’t suited to it. Because we have only four or five pupils in each class, we can give them the individual attention they need. One of the things I’m most proud of is our attendance rate. Sometimes, pupils have missed a term or even a full year of school by the time they find us, yet within a matter of weeks their attendance rate is over 90%. However, with every new pupil, we have to make sure that we are the right school for them and they’re right for us too.” 

“Just walking around the school, you can sense it’s a calm environment. That's not to say we don’t have episodes – of course we do - but we expect a certain level of behaviour. The feedback we received from parents is overwhelmingly positive because of the difference the school has made to their lives and that of the children.”

NURTURING NATURE

Key to the calming environment is flexibility, with staff adapting the curriculum to engage the pupils from primary age up to A’ level. Phil Brunton, who has previously worked at both secondary and primary schools, teaches the Nurture class. He has created a primary-based curriculum for pupils of secondary age, helping them consolidate their ability in core subjects while also improving their communication skills. One ongoing project is for the pupils to write and talk about interesting places they visit, including Horsham Park.

It is this will to adapt that makes working at the school challenging yet rewarding, says Quintus Dawson, Lead Maths Teacher .“At mainstream schools, every lesson is planned so that teachers work through the National Curriculum. We do that too, but need to think outside the box to help pupils reach their goals. It’s also important to read the room to gauge when they need a break. Cohesion is important too. Sometimes, adding just one person to a class can disrupt the dynamic as people with autism do need a degree of consistency and familiarity.”

SONIC BOOM

It is surprising – yet refreshing – for us to be given a tour of the school by several pupils, who express genuine love for New Barn. James, 13, is often accompanied by two cuddly friends, Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna. He is making good progress in the Nurture class and likes the relaxed atmosphere. He says that calling teachers by their first name, instead of “sir” or “ma’am” makes it more friendly. James is a keen baker and is hoping to find a Sonic-shaped cookie cutter!

Eloise, 14, loves English and is writing her own adventure thriller, The Starfall Initiative. She said: “The teachers always try to nurture our interests and encourage us. They have been really helpful with my book too. It’s really nice, as we feel like our opinions count for something.”

Adam, nine, loves the freedom the school offers, although probably not quite as much as he loves editing episodes of Peppa Pig so that characters say crazy things, almost certainly not as much as he loves YouTuber Gravycatman and definitely not as much as he loves the snack shack. Adam said: “Every Friday at break, we have the snack shack, where you can trade in all your points for some yummy snacks!”All pupils benefit from the spacious grounds.

Although it is a 50-acre site, it is largely undeveloped and will likely remain so, as the tranquil surroundings help instil a sense of security and wellbeing. It also provides pupils with the space for Forest School activities such as den building and cooking around a campfire, while there’s a small allotment for growing vegetables. There’s a World War Two bunker nearby too and groups can walk along the River Adur,  enjoying unspoiled countryside views across fields to Christ’s Hospital. 

Kevin Newman, Head of Humanities, said: “We do let the pupils have some quiet time, as it’s hard work being a teenager. We were all there once and they need a bit of down time. So, pupils spend a lot of time in PE, the games court and the wooded areas. We’re looking to expand our range of activities and excursions. We recently had our first residential and a group of pupils have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition. The geography teacher is planning to take a group to Rock Quarry and I hope to lead a history trip to Tangmere Aviation Museum. It’s important to give pupils something to look forward to.”

NEW CHAPTER

New Barn School was founded in 2017 with only a handful of pupils and since then, it has grown to its current peak of 79. Most are day pupils from West Sussex and Surrey, although some travel from further afield, with the school having a residential facility nearby, run in partnership with Treehouse Educare. In future, it may also be available to pupils at other schools offering specialist provision in the local area. 

Pupil numbers are expected to grow in the coming years, but to help maintain its current ambience, the primary school is likely to move to a new site from September 2023, which the Acting Head believes will be beneficial to all. Geoff Draper said: “We don’t want the site to be saturated with buildings and there is potentially a site in Surrey where a specialist primary school can be built. We would then be able to expand to about 120 pupils, although no more than that, as we want to keep our outdoor educational activities. We’re keen to develop an eco-culture and ethos throughout the school that children can take with them into adulthood.”

“By then, a new Head Teacher will be in place, but I will still be here in my role as Managing Director. However, I must say that stepping in to fulfil the role on a temporary basis has been a privilege.”

WORDS: Ben Morris

PHOTOS: Alan Wright

Further information: For more on New Barn School visit: www.newbarnschool.co.uk