Welcome Message From the Headteacher
The governors, staff and I are delighted to introduce you to the work of our school.
The Pilgrim School is a Community Special School (Hospital School). We act on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council to fulfil their duties under Section 19 of the 1996 Education Act. This means that our school provides education for pupils who are not in their mainstream school because of a decision made by a medical practitioner.
We passionately believe that a child’s history is not their destiny; that a person’s current circumstance does not dictate their future. As a school we actively plan for and promote a child’s resilience and post traumatic growth – remembering that success in school is a powerful resilience factor in itself.
The school prides itself on its ability to personalise learning and support so that pupils make rapid progress, especially in English, Maths and Science (including IT) and in their emotional well – being, as well as a wide range of other subjecs.
We teach and support pupils so that they are able to make a successful reintegration back into their mainstream school or to their next phase of learning.
As a hospital school we are not a school of choice; parents cannot apply for their child to come here. The decision of need rests with a medical practitioner but referrals are either sent in by a pupil’s school or through the county education out of schools team.
I hope that you find the website informative and interesting as it begins to describe the complex, but rewarding work the school does.
Steve Barnes, B.A. (Hons), MSc
The school was last inspected in February 2018. To view the report please follow the hyperlink on the ‘Links’ page. Alternatively, please call the office to request a hard copy. To contact The Pilgrim School, please call 01522 682319 or e-mail enquiries@pilgrim.lincs.sch.uk Please ask to speak to the headteacher - he is the person who deals with queries from parents or other members of the public.
Celebrating Success
Evie Toombes Story
Evie Toombes was taught in the home. She suffers from Spina Bifida and has a number of associated illnesses including gastric problems. Evie left us in the summer of 2017 having completed her GCSEs with us. She was recently nominated to receive a ‘WellChild’ award and got to meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the awards’ ceremony. She presented them with a book she has written that helps educate on hidden disability. A character in the book is a nod to the support offered to her by our member of staff noted in the story below. Evie spends part of her time educating young people about hidden disabilities and lives by the motto ‘Find a way, not an excuse’. What an inspiration!!
Evie Explains...
When I first joined he Pilgrim Hospital school I was in and out of hospital frequently, attempting to juggle numerous subjects with little help and support from my main stream school. A decline in health left me falling behind (especially in maths) and with little motivation to continue when my school was unable to offer sufficient resources to get me back on track.
My first few lessons with Paul, an enthusiastic and engaging teacher helped reintroduce me to finding my subjects fun and built my confidence to manage schoolwork efficiently when in hospital or away from home.
A day I'll never forget is when my teacher Paul, who I'd merely met twice before travelled to my hospital to teach me. My mum gave Paul the all clear to come, not knowing the distressing morning I'd had with my health and treatments earlier that day. I proceeded to lock myself in the bathroom, feeling overwhelmed by so many things going wrong and not wanting to do maths for 2 hours. Paul spent 2 hours talking to me through the toilet door, not about school or homework but just helping me to realise there is no pressure, some teachers do really care and that the hospital school is about more than working from a textbook.
I went on to sit and pass my GCSE maths paper a year early just 2months later thanks to the ongoing support, help and teaching at Pilgrim Hospital school. It not only gave me confidence but also the tools to manage schoolwork when poorly, knowing it's okay to take a break and that with the right support so many things are possible.
News about past pupils:
A pupil, CS, who attended the Lincoln base has been voted apprentice of the year at Lincoln College.
JJ from the Louth base is actively engaging in his placement.
KK, also from the Louth base, is successfully accessing his CLIP placement.
AS from the Sleaford base has successfully completed a work placement as part of her college course and this has led to her being offered a part time job.
Kinema in The Woods School Trip - Ralph Breaks The Internet
We had a very successful cinema trip with over 70 pupils and staff in attendance. Pupils and staff were treated to a showing of 'Ralph breaks the Internet', the sequel to 'Wreck It Ralph'. Everyone, of all ages, really enjoyed the film, even though some of the oldies did not understand what half of it was about! The pupils were amazing and represented themselves and the school perfectly.
Children In Need 2018 - £100 raised!
We raised £48.16 at Amber Hill. Pupils and staff dressed in spots, something yellow or pyjamas and they took part in activities such as Pudsey Coin Fill and making paper bear puppets. KS3 got really stuck into the fun and were awarded chocolate bears and stickers!
Between Amber Hill and Lincoln base £100 was raised.
Amber Hill - Community Coffee Morning
Amber Hill recently held a community coffee morning as part of the pupil’s Vocational Study course and also to build relationships with the local village. Pupils baked cakes for the event which were sold to raise money and tea and coffee was served for free. We were delighted to have 20 visitors from the village who were genuinely pleased that the school was open again after many years of being closed. Many thanks to LC and LS for organising the cake bake with pupils.
Celebrating Success - Dress as your Hero for Remembrance Day
Thanks to DA for organising a ‘Heroes’ morning at Amber Hill as part of the Remembrance celebrations this year. Pupils and staff were encouraged to come dressed as their hero and time was spent reflecting on what a true hero was before acknowledging the two minute silence at the war memorial which is positioned just inside the school grounds.
Pupil of The Week -
Quote of the week..
Your diet is not just about what you eat. It's about what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, and the people you hang around with.
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