YST’s Outstanding SEND School Winner - Redwood Secondary School, Rochdale

YST’s Outstanding SEND School Winner - Redwood Secondary School, Rochdale

Redwood Secondary School in Rochdale won YST’s (Youth Sports Trust) Outstanding Special educational needs and disability (SEND) School award this week. 

David Butterworth, Head of PE at Redwood Secondary School said: “We are extremely proud to be recognized as YST Outstanding SEND School for 2017. It’s an amazing achievement to win this national award in the company of such outstanding practitioners.”

In their application, the school said: “We use PE and sport to prepare our pupils for adulthood and to develop and monitor progress of social, communication and interpersonal skills. We believe it can help improve the health and wellbeing of ALL our pupils regardless of ability.”

YST’s judging panel said: “Sport, PE, Health and Wellbeing were used as a catalyst to drive whole school improvement, resulting in an Ofsted good judgment in December 2016, and inspectors were impressed with how pupil’s personal, social and health needs are developed through a creatively designed PE curriculum.

“PE and sport are harnessed to prepare pupils for adulthood and to develop and monitor progress of social, communication and interpersonal skills. One former pupil has graduated from the classrooms to staff room programme to gain a job at the school and describes his experience on the programme as life changing.

“They do not rest on their laurels and seek to support other schools providing training, advice and guidance across the region to other schools, universities and pupils to ensure greater inclusive opportunities for young people.”

Speaking on all of the award winners, YST Chief Executive Officer, Ali Oliver said: “I am thrilled that the YST is awarding such a high calibre of schools this year for inspiring and leading change for young people. PE and school sport develop and enhance life skills and support physical and mental wellbeing. Our schools are vital to delivering this and recognising the efforts of all of our winners, highly commended schools and to the breadth of applicants we have had this year is so important to our mission of creating a brighter future for young people.”

Youth Sport Trust Crowns its Outstanding Primary, Secondary and SEND Schools
At its 2017 National Conference at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, 28 February – 1 March, the Youth Sport Trust (YST) celebrated a host of award-winning schools, young people and teachers, for inspiring and leading change in PE, school sport and physical activity.
Awards were presented to schools during the conference celebration dinner on 28 February 7pm onwards.