On the 25th May, a group of learners from our Creative Arts Provision performed alongside contemporaries from Dawn House school to a live audience of over fifty people in the theatre at the Old Library in Mansfield.
For some of the learners, it was the first time they have performed in public to an audience, which required overcoming some significant personal barriers to achieve this fantastic feat that has the capacity to build confidence and self-belief for the future.
Learners, parents, carers, siblings and other family members came to watch the performances, which included accomplished singing and piano solos by our learners. We were also fortunate to collaborate with R.E.A.L. Creative Digital staff and learners who filmed the whole show, as well as R.E.A.L. Catering who prepared, cooked and served delicious food and refreshments for all in attendance.
James Mills, Music Provision Manager said: “It was particularly lovely to see parents and carers come along and see their children thrive and watch them share such a joyful moment. This was the first of many more annual showcases we will be running as we build upon this exciting first success.”
We would like to thank all parents and carers for their support and encouragement in attending the showcase, and staff for creating a brilliant and motivating curriculum that makes learners want to come to school and engage.
The students who performed in the showcase are currently working towards an NCFE Level 2 in Music Technology. From September this year, R.E.A.L. Creative Arts will also be offering qualifications in drama and art and design, alongside music. For more information about R.E.A.L. Creative Arts, visit our website.
Since the start of 2022, R.E.A.L. set a goal to encourage learners to read more and to help improve the provision for reading across R.E.A.L.
Michelle Farr and Chris Newman, Joint Heads of Quality of Education, as well as the rest of the leadership team would like to thank all staff for their amazing commitment to doing this.
Michelle said: “We would like to thank our staff for allowing us into sessions and encouraging learners to talk to us about their experience of reading at R.E.A.L, this is incredibly powerful!”
“It’s really encouraging that all staff recognise the important role that reading plays in accessing other areas of the curriculum and how important it is that our learners leave R.E.A.L. being able to read well. We appreciate all of the fantastic work that has been going on at all sites and within sessions to develop the love of reading.”
“Staff have been going to great lengths to find books that match their learners’ interests and have been planning set-times for reading in every session. As a result, learners have become more confident in reading aloud and talking about the books that they have enjoyed”.
Deputy Heads and Learning Managers have been reading Harry Potter books daily online for learners and this means that all of our learners are being read to daily. It has also been really positive to see staff delivering the Phonics International Programme for those learners who require it. As a result, one year 10 learner, who has been accessing a 20 minute daily phonics intervention for four weeks, has incredibly made the equivalent of nine months progress during that time.
Michelle said: “Reading will continue to remain a school improvement priority next academic year and we will work hard to embed all that we have started this year.”
We were delighted to receive an amazing thank you letter from a parent, explaining the development and journey their daughter has had throughout their time at R.E.A.L.
The letter reads;
To REAL Independent School,
I would just like to write a few words of thanks for your service provision. My daughter is now 18 and moving onto college in September. She has been with R.E.A.L. for four years. The service we have received is second to none and I do not regret relocating for her to be able to access your tailored education provision.
Four years ago I did not see a future where she would have 4 GCSEs and qualifications in media, or having confidence to purchase items in shops, travel independently, budget her money. While she still has some difficulties, the skills she has developed that are most important have grown. This is down to the tailored provision but ultimately the staff that execute the care plan.
The staff my daughter has had have been fantastic and we would not be where we are today without their professionalism, dedication, commitment, knowledge and support.
There are not enough words to express the benefits of this programme.
I would just like to say,
Thank you.
Rachel
Parent of one of our learners
This letter really does showcase the life-changing skills and differences that can be made at R.E.A.L. and how our fantastic team of staff work together to make this happen.
At R.E.A.L. Education, we believe that every child has a future. If you’re interested in how we can do this, contact us for more information at enquiries@real-education.org.
Kelsey Hill, Director of People & Business Operations at R.E.A.L said: “‘The website and photos capture R.E.A.L. perfectly! There are some fantastic images of students, all really engaged in their learning. For me this helps to illustrate what R.E.A.L. is all about.
We are sure the website will help people to get to know what R.E.A.L. stands for and learn more about the wealth of provision we can offer.”
Don’t just take our word for it, check out our website for yourself https://real-education.org/
Are you one of those people that holds onto items or a keen throw-awayer? Either way there’s not many people who may have a houseful of items that date back almost 100 years!
Mr Straw’s House is a National Trust property and has remained mostly unchanged since the Straw family moved in back in 1923.
Claire Wallett, Teaching Assistant, and her learner, McKenzie, recently visited the house as part of an engagement lesson. Claire said: “The Straws were a very wealthy family and McKenzie got to see how the rich lived 100 years ago!
Their best clothes were worn on mannequins, very smart suits and dresses. There was a bottle of sherry and two glasses still laid on the table and newspapers and letters were piled high as Mr Straw never threw anything away.”
Claire added: “McKenzie really enjoyed looking at how items have changed over the years and decor styles, there were still tins of Heinz soup and Quality Street and Roses! He also loved being able to read little fact postcards around the house.”
At R.E.A.L. we plan learning pathways thoughtfully, including visits and experiences that bring subjects to life.
You can learn more about our curriculum, on our website: https://realindependentschools.org/curriculum/overview/
Kelsey Hill, Director of People & Business Operations at R.E.A.L said: “‘The website and photos capture R.E.A.L. perfectly! There are some fantastic images of students, all really engaged in their learning. For me this helps to illustrate what R.E.A.L. is all about.
We are sure the website will help people to get to know what R.E.A.L. stands for and learn more about the wealth of provision we can offer.”
Don’t just take our word for it, check out our website for yourself https://real-education.org/
Ilkeston may be well-known for hosting one of the oldest Charter Fairs (since 1252!) but those at R.E.A.L. Independent School, Ilkeston have challenged that with a cracking summer fair for its staff and learners.
Gazebos, games and great food decorated the gardens of the Gallows Hub with lots of activities to take part in. From a tombola, to hook-a-duck, to Connect Four and face painting, there was plenty for people to get involved.
The fair received lovely feedback from learners with some of them kindly deciding to write thank you letters. Some of the comments were;
“I am writing to say how much fun the fair was, thank you for a lovely fair, we had a nice time.”
“Thank you so much for letting us have a summer fair. I loved it so much and I had a ton of fun with my friends too.”
“My favourite part was probably playing all the games on such a nice sunny day.”
“It’s a shame I didn’t get to get my face painted but that’s because I was having too much fun!”
This last school year has been jam-packed with successful stories from both learners and staff and will go down as a year that all at R.E.A.L. should be incredibly proud of.
Brilliant Ofsted reports were released for R.E.A.L. Education and Independent School Hinckley throughout the Autumn and Winter term, with both receiving an overall rating as ‘Good’. The reports were full of inspiring feedback such as describing R.E.A.L. as a school where “leaders and other staff place pupils’ personal development at the heart of the school’s work.”
This comment is proven by even just a few of the great learner stories over this last year. From a learner being scouted for a role with Vogue Autogroup after being spotted on Instagram in October, to two learners having their own poems chosen to be published in an anthology in February.
In April, learners appeared on TV, as their amazing efforts at a local church in Mansfield were filmed by East Midlands Today. They were helping load up a van with donations to support those in Ukraine, and for R.E.A.L. this was just one of many ways all sites teamed together to help fundraise.
Fundraising has been an important part of the last year and Head of Schools at R.E.A.L. Education, Nikki Purcell, raised an amazing £700 for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, by walking 5km a day, every day for 50 weeks during 2021! Martin Thorne, Maria Wills and Steve Quinn raised £1000 for the R.E.A.L. Foundation Trust by cycling over 150 miles over three days.
Learners have taken part in Masterchef-style cooking competitions, bumped into Paralympic swimmers, had residential trips to Lea Green, saw the Nottingham Tennis Open, had guest visits from local Police, performed to live audiences, celebrated different cultures and even fed meerkats in what can only be described as a very eventful year.
We can’t wait to see what the next year brings for everyone at R.E.A.L.