Activities and facilities

A welcoming environment for learning

Rossendale School was originally housed in a 18th Century stone farmhouse and the uniqueness of these former farm buildings reflects our school philosophy of offering bespoke learning packages. We have purposely designed the school to create a non-institutional atmosphere that is both warm and caring whilst offering opportunities for learning and personal development in a high quality setting. As the school has developed and grown, new specialist classroom areas have been created to compliment the Farmhouse.

Specialist facilities

Rossendale School benefits from a number of high quality on-site specialist facilities, including:

• Art studio
• Design technology workshop
• Food technology kitchen
• Gym
• Horticulture area
• ICT suite
• Media studio (at sixth form campus)
• Music suite with Apple Macs
• Quiet spaces and sensory relaxing areas
• Science labs
• Separate dining room for ASD pupils with more extreme sensory needs
• Sound studio

One of our secondary students even used our music and sound studios to produce a demo-track which he then used to support his successful admission onto a music course at college.

Keeping active

Rossendale School encourages pupils to keep active, offering a range of both on and off-site opportunities for exercise. These include:

• Canoeing
• Horse riding
• Indoor climbing
• Dry-slope skiing
• Outdoor activities centre
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Trampolining

Award schemes

Given the school’s strong focus on physical education, we also offer a range of sports and community-related award schemes. Students can enrol and work towards:

• BCU qualification
• British Trampolining Proficiency Awards
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Emergency First Aid Course
• Kayaking Paddle Power Passport Award
• National Navigation Award Scheme (Orienteering)
• RYA sailing qualifications
• Sports Leader Awards (this includes teaching mainstream primary children)
• Sunny Delight Basketball Awards

After school clubs and activities

Rossendale School believes after school clubs can play a valuable role in teaching pupils how to use their leisure time productively, encouraging young people to develop skills and talents in a variety of different activities. We are committed to building bespoke learning packages around an individual’s specific needs and interests. As such, we support our young people in attending a wide range of after school clubs, including:

• Cubs
• Scouts
• Brownies
• Cadets
• Specialist AS youth clubs

Students are asked to commit to attending a particular club or activity for at least half a term, after which we will review this with them.

An activities timetable based around students’ interests

We understand that pupils must be fully engaged in activities if they are to reap the maximum benefit from them. Our school council meets every half term to ensure that pupils have a strong voice within the school and are able to influence the way that Rossendale School is run, including helping to plan the activities programme. This gives students the opportunity to feedback on what extra-curricular opportunities they would be interested in.

A regular programme of events

Rossendale School has a regular and varied programme of school-wide events. These provide opportunities for students to develop their social and communication skills, contribute towards the school community and to celebrate one another’s successes. Events include:

• Weekly whole school assembly on Fridays (includes celebration of the week’s star pupils)
• Activity week held during the last week of school year
• Carol concert at Christmas time
• End of year presentation day (parents/carers are also invited)