For specific subject Intent, Implementation & Impact statements, please use the links to the right.

Intent

Harbour Vale School is a pupil referral unit located in a residential area of Sherborne, North Dorset. We provide a relational, inclusive and therapeutic learning environment for pupils who are unable to access or sustain engagement in mainstream education, or who require targeted intervention to support reintegration.

Our core purpose is for every student to BELIEVE, ACHIEVE, SUCCEED. We are committed to developing the whole child by fostering self-belief, resilience and emotional literacy alongside academic achievement. Central to this is our therapeutic thinking approach, underpinned by the values of RESILIENCE, RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY, which guide all interactions, behaviours and outcomes within our school community.

We explicitly develop oracy skills across the curriculum, enabling students to communicate confidently, articulate their thoughts, listen actively and engage respectfully with others. This supports both academic success and positive social relationships, equipping students with essential life skills.

Our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and tailored to individual need. For Key Stage 3 pupils, the intention is successful reintegration into mainstream education through targeted academic, social and emotional support. For Key Stage 4 pupils, we provide personalised pathways aligned with the National Curriculum, focused on closing knowledge gaps and securing appropriate qualifications. All pupils are prepared to move confidently into education, employment or training, with the skills, attitudes and adaptability required to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Implementation

Our bespoke curriculum is broad, balanced and personalised, designed to meet the diverse and often complex needs of our learners. It integrates academic learning with therapeutic thinking approaches, ensuring that emotional regulation, behaviour and readiness to learn are addressed alongside subject knowledge.

Teaching staff are calm, consistent and highly skilled in relational practice. They model positive behaviours, explicitly teach self-regulation strategies and use restorative approaches to support pupils in understanding and managing their actions. This creates a safe and purposeful learning environment where pupils feel valued and ready to learn.

Oracy is embedded across all subjects, with structured opportunities for discussion, debate, reflection and collaborative learning. Staff explicitly teach speaking and listening skills to strengthen pupils’ confidence, comprehension and ability to express themselves effectively.

Lessons are carefully adapted to meet individual needs, reducing barriers to learning. Assessment is used effectively to identify gaps in knowledge and inform personalised planning. Pupils are supported through:

• Individual learning plans and targeted interventions
• Access to external agencies and therapeutic support
• Off-site provision, including college placements and work-related learning
• Structured routines that promote engagement and self-regulation

A rigorous and supportive reintegration process is in place for pupils returning to mainstream education. This includes close collaboration with schools and families, clear communication of strategies and progress, and personalised transition plans. Pupils are supported through visits, reflection and ongoing review, ensuring they are equipped to succeed and sustain their placement.

Impact

Pupils at Harbour Vale School make meaningful progress academically, socially and emotionally from their individual starting points. They gain relevant qualifications, develop strong literacy and numeracy skills, and acquire the knowledge needed for their next steps.

Through our emphasis on therapeutic thinking and relational practice, pupils demonstrate improved self-regulation, resilience and behaviour for learning. They develop a secure understanding of how their actions affect themselves and others, enabling them to make positive choices.

Our focus on oracy ensures that pupils leave Harbour Vale able to communicate effectively, express their views with confidence and engage positively in a range of situations.

As a result, pupils:

• Transition successfully into mainstream education, further education, training or employment
• Demonstrate confidence, adaptability and independence
• Show ambition and high aspirations for their future
• Build positive relationships and contribute constructively to society

Pupils leave Harbour Vale as well-rounded young people who are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of adult life, equipped with the skills and mindset to succeed.

“Staff at Harbour Vale have been friendly and supportive, I really enjoyed the sailing opportunities they provided me with. If I could change one thing it would be taller goals/fences to stop us losing the football.” Bertie, June 2026