Barrs Court @ the Hub
Course Prospectus
16-19 years
A quick guide to the courses available at Barrs Court @ the Hub
Foundation Courses for Vocational Learning
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Entry Level 3 & Level 1 accredited courses leading to BTEC Qualifications
General courses that enable students to try a variety of work-related skills
Specific Vocational Courses in Land Based Studies & Hospitality
Supported work experience
Foundation Courses for Personal & Social Development
• Independent Living Skills including food hygiene
• Entry Level 1 to Level 1 accredited courses leading to BTEC Qualifications
• Accredited programmes of study for PMLD students
Foundation Courses for Literacy & Numeracy
• Entry Level 1 to Level 1 accredited courses leading to nationally recognised qualifications
• Functional skills relating directly to the wider world and transition to adulthood
• Focus Groups for addressing individual needs in communication and early thinking skills
Specialist Curricula & Therapeutic Care
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Physiotherapy, mobility and hydrotherapy
Alternative/Augmentative Communication and Speech and Language Therapy
Music Therapy
Family support
Enrichment Activities
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Performing Arts including drama, performance, rock band tuition, individual instrument tuition
Residential trips and travel training
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Groups
Barrs Court Youth Club
Student Social Club
FOUNDATION COURSES FOR VOCATIONAL LEARNING
GENERAL VOCATIONAL STUDIES - BTEC (Entry 3/Level 1 Vocational Studies)
1. Outcomes
The courses we offer will give you the opportunity to:

Gain knowledge, understanding and skills relating to different types of job

Learn work related skills by carrying out practical activities in a vocational context

Achieve a nationally recognised work-related qualification.
Your studies are designed to help you to get a job and to get onto vocational courses at other colleges.
2. What will I learn?
You will take part in practical work, both in school and as part of supported work placements. You will visit local businesses to find
out about the jobs that people do there. You will work towards units to provide you with a qualification that is nationally recognised.
3. How will I choose what to study?
There are different options of study to choose from each term. At the start of each term we run a ‘Dragon’s Den’ session, where
teachers tell you about the options you can choose from and you can try out activities from each option. The options for 2012-13
are:
Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Performing
Arts
ICT
Horticulture
Sport &
Leisure
Art
Horticulture
Travel &
Tourism
DIY Skills
Horticulture
SPECIFIC VOCATIONAL STUDIES - BTEC (Entry 3/Level 1 Land Based Studies)
1. Outcomes
The courses we offer will give you the opportunity to:
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Develop confidence and skills required to work on farms, or as a gardener

Carry out tasks associated with working with farm animals such as safe moving and the preparation of spaces for looking after
farm animals.
Your studies are designed to help you to get a job or work experience in an agricultural or horticultural setting and to get onto
vocational courses at other colleges.
2. What will I learn?
You will attend a weekly placement at Coppice Farm in St Weonards, as part of a group of students. You will be supported by a farm
tutor and school staff. The farm is a mixed farm with sheep, cows and crops. You will work on all areas of the farm, including basic
tractor driving skills and working simple machinery with supervision. You will work towards units that will provide you with a
qualification that shows your knowledge, understanding and experiences.
3. How can I apply?
You will be asked to complete an application form at the start of the school year. Addy, our Farm Tutor may want to meet with
candidates to make sure you understand what the course involves – you will be cold and wet for at least some of the year! Although
there are limited places we will try and make sure that everyone who wants to do this course and is suitable for it gets to study in
this working environment for at least a year of their time at the Hub.
SPECIFIC VOCATIONAL STUDIES- BTEC (Entry 3 Exploring the hospitality industry)
1. Outcomes
The courses we offer will give you the opportunity to:

Learn skills to prepare and serve food and drink. You will also learn about keeping bedrooms, bathrooms and other living areas
clean and tidy.

Develop personal skills that will help you communicate with people.
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Achieve a nationally recognised work-related qualification.
Your studies are designed to help you to get a job or work experience in a hospitality setting, such as front of house waiting staff,
and to get onto other vocational qualifications at school or at college.
2. What will I learn?
You will take part in practical work in school and as part of visits and supported work placements. You will visit cafes and hotels to
find out about their business and the jobs that people do there. Throughout the course you will work towards units to provide you
with a qualification that shows your knowledge, understanding and experiences.
It is important to know that if you want to study for this course it will replace your general vocational studies and you will not be
able to pick from the options given at our ‘Dragon’s Den’ sessions.
3. How can I apply?
If you want to study for this qualification you will be asked to complete an application form at the start of the school year. We will
try and make sure that everyone who wants to do this course and is suitable for it gets to study in this working environment for
some of their time in the Department, although you may have to wait a while for your turn.
VOCATIONAL/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
(Entry 2 Award/Certificate in skills for independence and work)
1. Outcomes
The courses we offer will give you the opportunity to:
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Gain knowledge, understanding and skills of different jobs

Learn skills that will help you live more independently

Learn work related skills through carrying out practical activities in a vocational context

Achieve a nationally recognised work-related qualification.
Your studies are designed to help you to get experience in a vocational area you are interested in and to get onto other vocational
qualifications at school or at college. It will also help you live independently and make choices about your life.
2. What will I learn?
You will take part in practical work, both in school and as part of supported placements. You will visit local businesses to find out
about the jobs that people do there. You will develop your independent living skills by practising these in our own life skills flat at
The Hub. You will work towards units to provide you with a qualification that shows your knowledge, understanding and experiences.
3. How will I choose what to study?
You will work on independent living skills in small groups of students from your class. Some learning will be directly related to
transition targets designed to get you ready for adult life. When you are learning about the world of work there are different
options of study to choose from each term. At the start of each term the department runs a ‘Dragon’s Den’ session, where teachers
tell you about the options you can choose from and you can try out activities from each option. These are the same options as for
other courses. You will work alongside your friends but at a level that best suits your needs. The options for 2012-13 are given on
page 3.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – (Entry 1 Award/Certificate in personal progress)
1. Outcomes
This course will help you to develop your skills in a number of different areas. The units that make up this course cover areas such
as:
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Developing skills for independent living
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Developing skills for the workplace and
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Engaging with the world around you.
You will only complete units of study that are appropriate to you. There are special units for our students with Profound and
Multiple Learning Difficulties. This qualification is designed to help you work towards supported employment, independent living, and
other Entry Level qualifications.
2. What will I learn?
You will take part in practical work and visits to relevant, local day opportunities. There will be opportunities to access supported
work placements instead of day opportunities if this is better suited to you. You will visit local amenities to find out about the
services they offer. Your work will be based around the areas of learning described above.
3. How will I choose what to study?
You will work on independent living skills in small groups of students. Some learning will be directly related to transition targets
designed to get you ready for adult life. You will also be able to choose from different options of study each term. You will be able
to try out activities from each option at our ‘Dragon’s Den’ sessions before you choose. If you need other people to help tell us what
you like then we will ask them too. These are the same options as for other courses. You will work alongside your friends but at a
level that best suits your needs.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – (Entry 3/Level 1 Award/Certificate in work skills)
Outcomes
The courses we offer will give you the opportunity to:
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Develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to enter employment
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Achieve a nationally-recognised qualification
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Focus on the development of functional skills in English, Mathematics and ICT
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Develop a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in working life.
2. What will I learn?
Learning will take place as small discrete units, directly related to transition targets designed to get you ready for adult life. The
units you study will depend upon your own goals and targets but could include;
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Managing Your Own Money
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Searching for a Job
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Conduct at Work
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Managing Your Health at Work and
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Presenting Accurate Documents
You will build up these units over your time in the FE Department, building up to the full BTEC award in your final year.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – (Level 1 Award in home cooking skills)
Outcomes
The courses we offer will give you the opportunity to:
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Learn the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy cooking meals at home.
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Understand how to economise when planning meals to cook at home.
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Learn about what makes a healthy meal.
This course is designed to help you become more independent at home and will help keep you healthy.
2. What will I learn?
Being able to cook is an essential life skill. If people don’t know how to cook nourishing meals it can make them unhealthy. You will be
introduced to basic cooking skills by following recipes for simple dishes and learning how to use kitchen equipment safely. Each
recipe goes with knowledge about sourcing food, nutrition, hygiene and food safety where relevant.
3. How can I apply?
Every student completes a course of cooking skills that is appropriate to their own needs. If your teacher thinks that your cooking
skills are of a high standard she will talk to you about entering you for this qualification. If you would like to work towards this
qualification then your teacher will help you and tell you what you need to do to be successful.
LITERACY & NUMERACY
1. Introduction
The programmes of study for Literacy & Numeracy are designed to both develop a student’s existing skills and also to enable
students apply these core skills in functionally useful ways in the real world.
Discrete literacy and numeracy lessons enable students to continue to develop core skills skills within communication, reading, and
writing as part of literacy, whilst in numeracy students continue to learn about number, use of money and the use of standard
measures such as learning to tell the time. Practical activities are also organised to help enable students apply their skills in
functionally useful ways, such as filling in application forms and budgeting for a meal. Attainment is marked by the completion of
nationally accredited awards in English and Maths, offered from Entry 1 to Level 1 and also by reference to National Curriculum
attainment levels. Students with more complex communication and early thinking needs benefit from participation in focus groups
that are targeted and assessed by reference to IEP targets.
Students develop their functional skills around a range of topics, all based around the transition to adulthood. An example of a
programme of study is given below:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Personal Details
Personal Details &
Personal Details &
& Experiences
Experiences
Experiences
(preparation for
(preparation for Annual
(preparation for
Annual Reviews)
Reviews)
Annual Reviews)
The World of Work
Home/Housing
Education & Training
Keeping in Touch
Health
Transport
News
Buying goods
Leisure
Community
UK society
Culture
SPECIALIST APPROACHES
THE SPECIALIST CURRICULUM
Because children who have severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties have learning needs that stand outside of the National
Curriculum and examination syllabuses, specialist curricula has been developed ‘in house’ in order to ensure that all students have
the opportunity to achieve and attain to the best of their abilities. The school has authored three specialist curriculum frameworks
dedicated to helping children overcome barriers to their learning and/or well-being and to minimise the handicapping effects of
SEN and disability. These specialist curriculum frameworks are:
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Early Communication Skills
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Early Thinking Skills
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Early Motor Skills
Students are assessed against the diagnostic criteria contained within each of these specialist curriculum areas. When a student
has been identified as having a particular “weakness” or need within a diagnostic criterion, the school will design what is called a
SIRB (strategic intervention in response to barriers) which describes what special provision needs to be in place in response to this
need. For the most acute needs, an IEP target is designed to help a student learn the skills and understanding necessary to make
progress within their priority area of need. Sometimes IEP targets are taught individually by withdrawing a student from lessons,
sometimes as a discrete part of a timetabled course, or sometimes as part of a “focus group”. Focus groups enable students who
have similar disabilities to come together under the direction of a specialist Training Instructor in Disability (TID) and benefit
from the expert tuition provided which is offered in addition to, and in collaboration with, the support provided by therapists from
the PCT. The school employs a small team of TIDs who are each responsible for an area of the specialist curriculum.
THERAPEUTIC CARE
The school works closely with a wide range of professionals in an effort to provide the best therapeutic care for our students and
help ensure their physical and mental well-being.
Physiotherapists visit the school regularly to work with students who have impaired mobility and work in collaboration with the TID
for mobility to design activities that can then be incorporated into a student’s personal timetable. Students requiring hydrotherapy
have access to the main school’s own state of the art hydrotherapy pool which is also used for teaching swimming to students who
lack the confidence to swim in public pools. Similarly, Speech and Language Therapists visit on a weekly basis in order to work with
individual students and organise therapeutic programmes in collaboration with our own TID for Communication and/or work alongside
class teachers. Additional PCT services are also available to support the well-bring of students, including Occupational Therapy,
consultant paediatrics (all students have an annual medical with a consultant paediatrician), clinical psychology and psychiatry. A
private Music Therapist is funded on a one day a week basis at The Hub who works with students who have been specifically
referred for music therapy, either on a one-to-one basis or in small groups.
The Hub provides all students with strong pastoral care and personal counselling is always available for whenever a student has
encountered a personal difficulty. The Hub works closely with the local authority’s Adult Social Care Team to help ensure that the
transition to adulthood is as seamless as possible. Additional support is available from the school’s Every Child matters coordinator
who, if necessary, can design a CAFtac (a multi-agency team approach to supporting vulnerable young people and their families) to
help ensure that a student can be supported out of school hours to enjoy a meaningful social life.
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
PERFORMING ARTS
The Performing Arts are very much valued at The Hub and we provide many ways for young people share their talents with others.
For example, individual instrumental tuition is available and/or tuition for a whole band if students wish to form their own rock
band. At whole school assembly each week students have the opportunity to perform a favourite song on an “open mike” slot and
each summer the school organises an “X Factor” event.
In the spring term students have the opportunity to perform at the Courtyard Arts Centre as part of the Herefordshire
Performing Arts Festival, but this is not just restricted to music performances, but also for performances of dance, poetry, rap
etc. On occasion students have developed their own comedy sketches for either performing locally, or for making into a film to
show other students.
A highlight of the Barrs Court calendar is our annual staff-pupil pantomime, the content of which pupils and students nominate the
themes they want to see performed. An after school drama club is held until 5.00pm each Thursday during the autumn term during
which students hoping to have a leading role can develop their acting skills. Students who prefer a behind the scenes approach to
public performance can apply to be trained as an artist/technician and help make scenery or operate the stage lights. Expressive
arts also feature regularly when students can submit their 2 or 3 dimensional art works for exhibition locally.
An annual arts week is organised each spring term when students can benefit from expert tuition provided by one or more of the
week’s artists in residence.
RESIDENTIAL TRIPS
The school offers a range of residential experiences and aims to offer all pupils and students with the opportunity to participate in
at least one residential trip. Each May the school organises an outdoor adventure activity week at Redridge Centre near Welshpool,
where students take part in activities such as rock climbing, canoeing and potholing. During July our more profoundly disabled
learners are offered the opportunity to stay at Longleat Centre Parc and engage in a programme of therapeutic activities in addition
to getting ‘up close’ to the animals in the neighbouring safari park. Additional, one off residential trips are also organised, such as
the 2011 residential to London for a careers fair and a personal tour of the Houses of Parliament. Residential stays are all part of
the transition to adulthood and important activities such as road safety and travel training are also a regular feature.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME
The school offers two after school Duke of Edinburgh groups, one working towards the Bronze Award and one who is working
towards the Silver Award.
The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. Students must do a
minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections, and also plan, train and complete a an
expedition that includes an overnight camp. Students also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical
or Skills sections.
The next step up from Bronze Award, a Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills
and Expedition. You need to do at least 6 months Volunteering and a minimum of 6 months on either Physical or Skills and 3 months
on the other. The Expedition section involves planning, training and completing a 3 day expedition.
BARRS COURT YOUTH CLUB
Barrs Court runs an after school Youth Club on a weekly basis during term time. Participants can choose from a range of activities
including football coaching, a beauty club, singing workshops and a cooking club. The Youth Club is very popular with pupils and
students of all ages and affords an opportunity for school friends to socialise ‘out of hours’.
STUDENT SOCIAL CLUB
As part of the work of the school’s registered charity, the Hereford Learning Disability Trust (HLDT), further opportunities for
social inclusion are frequently organised, for example in 2011 a Blues Brothers evening was organised complete with buffet and live
band. These social events are further boosted with regular evening trips to regional theatres and, of course, by our annual School
Prom event which boasts a professional DJ, catering, photographer and limousine travel for school leavers. Having a fulfilled social
life is important and at The Hub we work closely with our students to help ensure that social events are fun but safe.
For further information please contact:
Richard Aird (headteacher) raird@barrscourt.hereford.sch.uk
Kate Moule (assistant head and head of 6th form) kmoule@barrscourt.hereford.sch.uk
Telephone 01432 265035 (main school) or 01432 353804 (The Hub)