The Pendlebury Centre – Background Information

The Pendlebury Centre is an ‘outstanding’ Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) for secondary-aged students in Stockport. Our vision is to ‘reach the right children, at the right time, and to do the right thing’.

The Pendlebury Centre provides full-time placements for 44 students with a variety of social, emotional and mental health needs. The Centre also incorporates Cedars, a specialist Tier 3 provision with 6 places in total.

In addition to our main offer, we also provide an intervention – Pendlebury Paths – which supports a further 15 students in reengaging back into education.

Finally, The Secondary Jigsaw Team forms part of the wider Pendlebury outreach offer. Jigsaw comprises of a multi-agency mental health team which work as part of the Stockport CAMHS Service. The Team support approximately 220 children in their mainstream setting each year.

Pendlebury and Cedars placements are not permanent but offered on a short to medium basis, typically as follows:

– Years 7 • 10-12 school weeks
– Year 11 • Personalised placement in consideration of student need
– Cedars Provision • 18 school weeks
– Pendlebury PATHS • 4-12 week intervention

The Pendlebury Centre is proud to have had six consecutive ‘Outstanding’ judgements from Ofsted, the most recent in June 2023. This continued record of excellence is a reflection of the staff’s expertise in working with young people and our commitment to collaborative working.

The Pendlebury Centre does place a significant emphasis on the importance of addressing social, emotional, and mental health needs among young people and families. Through our collaborative efforts with our partners, local schools, and universities, we aim to increase awareness and understanding of these crucial needs and work to reduce the stigma surrounding them.

“Leaders work hand in hand with a range of external agencies. This enables them to secure timely specialist support for pupils and their families”. (Ofsted June 2023)

As part of our commitment to this important work, The Pendlebury Centre provides opportunities for our colleagues to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively address and, where possible, de-escalate the various challenges faced by students. Our goal is to equip our colleagues with a comprehensive understanding of social, emotional, and mental health needs and to empower them to provide the necessary support and care to those in need.

Aims & Ethos

The Pendlebury Centre aims to provide students with a supportive, consistent educational environment that promotes positive mental health alongside academic achievement – whilst developing social skills, independence, self-motivation and respect for others.

The Pendlebury Centre provides a personalised learning experience which will secure a student’s successful reintegration/transition into an appropriate educational provision, and in turn help equip them with the skills to achieve in their future.

The Centre’s ‘Mission Statement’ is summarised as ‘Believe In Your Future’.

Vision

To reach the right children, at the right time, and to do the right thing.

By 2025-26, we will:

  • Champion professional learning and discussion with stakeholders to increase understanding of the Pendlebury services and thus facilitate appropriate and timely referrals.

  • Design dynamic pathways that are flexible to meet individual needs.

  • Establish a rich, creative and ambitious curriculum that goes beyond the confines of academic attainment and prepares our students for their next steps and adulthood with increased confidence and aspiration regardless of starting point.

  • Ensure the physical space and buildings are fit for purpose and can accommodate increasing demand and the changing needs of cohorts.

  • To support students following the impact of the pandemic, understanding the negative effects on their SEMH needs and disengagement from learning.

Our core values:

  • To celebrate individual and collective success.

  • To maximise strengths and minimise weaknesses.

  • To allow all to thrive in a supportive environment.

  • To be courageous and ambitious, and to aspire to reach the full potential in all that we do.

  • To embrace difference and enable belonging.

Strategic plan:

Please click on the following link for our 3-year plan: Strategic Plan