Meadowcroft School in Wakefield celebrated the official opening of its new vocational centre, The Works, on Tuesday 28th November.
The official opening was performed by Wakefield Mayor Councillor Kevin Barker with many guests, parents, pupils and members from the wider community in attendance.
Meadowcroft School has gained an enviable reputation for enabling pupils, who’ve struggled at previous schools, to succeed. The specialist, experienced staff team at Meadowcroft School support all pupils to unlock their potential through challenge, opportunity, therapy, care and understanding. A personalised, innovative approach combines the ambition for every child with a broad, balanced curriculum which has been dramatically enhanced by the school’s new, state of the art facility: ‘The Works’. The Works also aims to open employment opportunities through vocational studies and direct links with employers through apprenticeships and work experience.
For pupils with social, emotional and learning difficulties, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, autism and associated conditions, a place at Meadowcroft ensures improvements in behaviour, confidence and importantly, self-belief, which leads to accelerated learning inside the classroom and beyond.
Iain Anderson, Group Chief Executive of NFA Group, owners of Acorn Care and Education, said: ‘Our continued and ongoing investment in our schools is designed to create and develop opportunities for all the children and young people for whom we provide specialist education. I am very delighted with Lynette and the staff team at Meadowcroft for their innovation and their commitment to drive the boundaries of what is possible.
The Guests were given a tour of the school by the pupils, together with Headteacher Lynette Edwards and Chair of the governors Julie Taylor.
Julie Taylor, Chair of Governors and Assistant Director of Education for Acorn Care and Education said: “We are very proud of the latest addition to Meadowcroft’s portfolio of provision. The new vocational unit will allow the school to offer specialist education to some of the most vulnerable young people in the region. The facilities we have developed will enable the staff to deliver a wide variety of courses, preparing our students well for the next stage in their lives.”
Councillor Kevin Barker, Wakefield Mayor said: The facilities are absolutely first class and I am very proud that to have an educational establishment like The Works that is able to serve the whole of Yorkshire based here in Wakefield. It is encouraging to see the children learning practical skills that will set them up for the future and that the enthusiasm of the tutors is clearly reflected in the outcomes for the young people. I would like to congratulate the Headteacher and her team on their achievement.”
