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.
Opening Ceremony - Amber Hill
The opening ceremony for Amber Hill held on the 5th April was a fantastic success. We have received very positive feedback from the guests who attended. One of the project managers for LCC wrote in an email:
I just wanted to pass on my thanks to the team for the hugely successful official opening day last week. The students and staff seem very at home in their new location and it was good to see the school being well used.
Thank you for inviting me to the event, I enjoyed seeing the facility being used so well considering from where it all began – could you also pass on my thanks to the Head Teacher, Chair of Governors, governors, staff and pupils – they deservedly must be very proud of how far the Pilgrim School has come.
Celebrating Success - Children of Courage Awards
The Sleaford Rotarian Children of Courage Awards for 2019 were held on Tuesday 19th March 2019 in the North Kesteven District Council Offices and 2 of The Pilgrim School pupils were nominated to receive awards. These awards are given to children who have demonstrated positive attitudes under great adversity and who have gone above and beyond. Jemma Whiteside and Brandon Edwards both received awards for their resilience and positive attitudes to overcome their individual adversities, alongside 5 other pupils from local mainstream schools and the evening was a great success. NB provided the audience with an update of The Pilgrim School and the school received a lot of support and plaudits from various dignitaries who attended the event.
Mental health Splatter Days!
The mental health splatter days have gone very well indeed. Pupils and staff alike were inspired by the stories of courage, determination and resilience that were told by BLESMA and Amy Winehouse survivors. A big thank you to NB for organising this.
World Book day!
Staff and students at all three bases celebrated World Book Day on Thursday 7th March.
There was a quiz and some funny shenanigans with book jackets as students selected book titles that reflected something about their personality.
This photograph demonstrates how this was done in the ASD centre. Fabulous!
Thank you to all staff who encouraged participation. There will be some photographs on display around school soon.
Comic Relief
Well done to the Lincoln base who raised £39 from a cake sale for Comic Relief. They also had a joke competition and our pupil DT won best joke, and our staff member SLwon worst joke. Big thanks to JD for organising this.
Procedure for Parents should we experience Bad Weather.
Pupil of The Week -
Quote of the week..
People who wonder of the glass is half empty or half full are missing the point. The glass is refillable.
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