Brantwood Specialist School is located on the outskirts of Sheffield and in addition to the main campus, includes a smallholding and a theatre / performing arts space.
Pupils at Brantwood participate in the Practical Skills Therapeutic Education curriculum which is braided with the national curriculum requirements. Maths, English science, history and geography are embedded into the traditional land and craft work, in a contextualised and practical way. Eyam smallholding offers horticulture, animal care, woodwork and forge in a tranquil outdoor environment.
At-a-glance
Executive Principal: Alan Harrison
Deputy Principal: Rae Stevenson
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Digby Brown
Designated Attendance Lead: Digby Brown
Designated Teacher for Looked After Children (LAC): Eoin Magill
Senior Head of Care: Rosemarie Hull
Senior RSW: Joanne Wilson
Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO): Eoin Magill
Head of Outdoor Learning: Jim Hildyard
Director of Schools: Tara Gratton
Chair of the Board of Directors: Helen Kippax
Clerk to the Board of Trustees: Solene Mosley
Proprietor: Aonghus Gordon
Age Range: 7-19
Local Authority: Sheffield
Quick links
About Brantwood
Each pupil will receive an individual timetable that is based on their needs, interests and anticipated outcomes from their Education, Health and Care Plans. Brantwood Specialist School uses the principles from Steiner’s pedagogical approach to inform the curriculum and pupils will engage in a range of practical land and craft activities with the national curriculum woven throughout. English, maths and science are taught through application in practical skills, weighing and measuring, reading instructions, storytelling, and more.
The practical land and craft curriculum is supplemented by drama and art, where students can further develop their confidence, social and communication skills and self-awareness. Sensory needs are met through a range of activities, use of natural materials, and indoor and outdoor teaching spaces. Pupils are encouraged to spend as much of their day outdoors as possible.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child – thank goodness we found the right ‘village’ in Brantwood for our son!”
– Parent of one of our students at Brantwood
Brantwood offers a range of therapies to support the pupils, including Occupational Therapy, Eurythmy, Rhythmical Massage, Therapeutic Art, Counselling and Speech and Language therapy. Residential pupils at Brantwood live in the Coach House nearby and are supported by a team of staff. Pupils are expected and supported to participate in all household activities, including cooking, shopping, cleaning and planning social activities.
Destinations of students after leaving us
In the last three years, 100% of our school leaves have moved on to education or training. Some examples of our leavers’ successes within three years of leaving Brantwood are:
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Studying subjects including art, catering, music, chemistry, psychology and photography at local colleges
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Attending Freeman College, a further education provision also within Ruskin Mill Trust
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Studying land and wildlife management at a residential college
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Attending University to study for a degree in Psychology
Safeguarding at Brantwood
Brantwood Specialist School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all pupils and staff and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent, effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support pupils and staff at school.
Any concerns are passed to the members of staff who are part of our school safeguarding team, led by our Designated Safeguarding Lead.
The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents and carers about their children. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents and carers. More information including our Safeguarding Policy can be found on our dedicated safeguarding page.
Further Information
The school’s policies, including the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found on our policies page. Other key policies covering the entire Trust are available on this website under the ‘policies and procedures tab’.
If you would like hard copies of these posting to you free of charge or have different access needs, please contact Laura Hallewell, Brantwood Specialist School, 1 Kenwood Bank, Sheffield S7 1NU, by email at [email protected] or by phone on 0114 258 9062
Additional information about the school and the way it operates can be found in the following documents
• Practically Minded, an exploration of the value of practical activity for school-aged students
• The specialist therapies available at BSS.
