Special Educational Needs (SEN)

A range of staff make extensive provision for students with special needs. Our support is focused on individual needs and we use a range of specialists to support students. For those students who require additional learning support, we have Learning Support Assistants who may aid students in the classroom or give some help on a short term withdrawal basis. Mr Oldham is the school's SEN Cordinator. For those students for whom behaviour is the issue, we have a range of strategies and support programmes led by our Inclusion Team. Mr Goppy oversees the work of our Inclusion Team. For the most able we have a range of approaches to ensure that their potential is fully realised. Each subject area has extension work and a number of visits and activities are on offer for these students.

Gifted and Talented (G+T)

Mr Hotham oversees our Gifted and Talented programme. The school has a person equipped to deal with medical issues and a counsellor who supports students. We will administer medicines only if given explicit written permission and instructions from parents/carers.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Holland Park is proud of its diversity and welcomes students for whom English is an additional language. We support such students by using specialist staff. There are specialist resources and specialist accommodation. The school is also privileged to receive and support a number of refugees each year. Our general policy is to support EAL students in the mainstream curriculum. Ms Mann is the school's EAL coordinator.

Academic Review Days (ARDs)

Toward the end of each term and following student assessment, parents are invited to the school to discuss with teachers their child's academic progress. These meetings take place throughout the day and into the early evening. All parents are issued with their child's academic profile. This matches current performance with predicted grades and details whether the student is on target. Parental feedback indicates that these days are valuable in understanding how to ensure their child continues to make progress in line with expectation. Results arising from termly assessment tests ensure that teachers are able to develop individual and personalised learning programmes for each student they teach.

Parent Teacher Groups (PTGs)

These events are held each half term in the evening. In excess of 500 parents normally attend and have opportunity to listen to a range of presentations linked to learning and raise issues pertinent to the academic progress of students. Our Year Team Leaders take a lead role in the organisation of these events and topics for the evenings largely arise out of parental request.