Aspirations for pupils at a special school are sky-high - and a major fundraising drive is underway to help them achieve it.
Calderdale’s only secondary special needs school, Ravenscliffe High, is aiming to raise millions for a new sixth form campus.
It will help boost students’ education, workplace activities and independent living dreams.
The school, for pupils aged 11-19 with a range of special needs, has grown from 69 to 139.
They need to raise more than £2.5m to fund the Huddersfield Road Spring Hall campus.
Deputy head Jo Hague explained: “We know from school records that more pupils will need to come here – it’s crucial we get more space.
“We began talking to the council three years ago and said Spring Hall was the perfect location. We got unanimous support and they committed £1.5m towards the project.
“And we really appreciate the money which will give us the classrooms, but it won’t fund everything we need.
“What we aspire for our students is for them to be part of the community and we want a sixth form that can really help us do that.”
Their vision is for a multi-purpose campus that not only provides students with life skills, but can also provide them with a job too – and a community cafe features in the plans.
It will complement the current school in Skircoat Green which provides the national curriculum for key stage three pupils tailored to their own needs.
And the school is admired by its pupils – and the school asked us only to use their first names.
Leon, of Rastrick, and Luke, Milly and Emma, all of Brighouse, told us about why they love school.
For year 7 pupil Emma, 12, the swimming pool is the biggest draw.
“I like it here,” she said. “I like communication lessons which is writing and reading. I’d like to do more swimming.”
Luke, 14, of Brighouse loves football and was proud to play on the school team.
Milly, also of Brighouse, hopes to become one of the wheelchair trainees; a new project that pairs a wheelchair pupil with an able-bodied pupil to share experiences.
Leon, aged 15, is one of the many pupils who have job placements, working in Tesco and the school kitchen.
Many older students study for the NVQ in hygiene and catering, and that’s where the idea of a community cafe comes in.
Ravenscliffe believes they can provide meaningful employment for pupils when they leave school.
But first they need to raise funds for it.
IT coordinator Gareth Hunter is writing the school’s grant applications and said: “We started making prudential savings and have raised a further £350,000, but that still leaves us £700,000 short for the building phase.”
Community fundraising and donations are vital.
On July 11 at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax they will stage a Tour de Force, a music and dance celebration showcasing pupils talents with musicians from the Souled Out Band. Tickets are £7 from 01422 351158.
Jo added: “We are the only specialist school in Calderdale and we are in the top 12 most outstanding special schools in the country.
“We want the best for our pupils.”
The school is thankful for donations from local groups such as the Rotarians, Lloyds Banking Group and the Buy a Brick fundraiser.
To donate visit here
Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
To follow us on Twitter click here
