Motivation, morale and movement: Creating a distributed leadership model in a new and growing school

Our school is a newly established special school in London, catering for 28 children, aged 7-16, with complex behavioural needs and those on the autism spectrum and with additional complex needs. We realised there was a ‘gap in the market’ for students who are high-functioning, and are able to live independent, fulfilled lives as adults, but who don’t yet have the tools and strategies to cope with the demands placed on them from others. Their needs generally stem from their poor social and communication abilities. In line with research regarding autism diagnoses, the vast majority of our students are male, with females generally being diagnosed later on in adolescence. It is a particularly challenging environment to work in as these children have a huge range of complex needs. As they are higher functioning, it is sometimes somewhat difficult to distinguish between behaviour that is a choice, or behaviour that is borne out of their frustrations to communicate effectively, as is typical for those with ASC.

Date Published: 10th October 2019
Report Author/s: Hannah Lovegrove
Organisation/s : Brookways School, NASS
Sector: Education, Recruitment, SEND, Special Schools
Topic: School Leadership
Type of Report: Case study
Country: England
Keywords: Autism, behaviour, CPD, High Functioning, leadership, Special School, Staff development


Additional Notes:

 

This case study is included in Special School Leaders

 
A collection of case studies from special school leaders. This book is the result of a year long leadership programme delivered by NASS and AKN Consulting for leaders of independent schools and non-maintained special schools. As part of the programme participants designed and implemented leadership projects within their schools and these are their stories. The eight case studies within cover structural changes, staff re-organisation, implementing new initiatives and new approaches for assessing and improving outcomes for children.
 
Edited by Anita Kerwin-Nye and Matt Overd. Foreword by NASS Chief Executive Claire Dorer.
 
Download as a pdf here
 

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