In the Farmhouse which includes Nightingale and Sheeran Learning groups, the curriculum is specially designed for younger students who thrive in a creative, hands-on learning environment. The class combines playful, exploratory activities with more structured learning to support children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Through carefully designed play-based learning, students develop key skills in literacy, numeracy, and communication, while also enhancing their problem-solving abilities and creativity. Our experienced staff use interactive methods, such as group projects, games, and imaginative play, alongside focused, structured learning tasks to ensure every child can learn at their own pace and in a way that suits their individual needs.

This balanced approach provides a stimulating and supportive atmosphere, helping children build confidence and a love for learning. 

Our New Beginnings Class offers a gentle and supportive transition into school life for students who have faced challenges in their previous educational experiences. Designed as a soft entry into the school environment, this class provides a safe, nurturing and creative space where children can rebuild their confidence and discover the joy of learning.

In New Beginnings, we follow an early-years model of continuous provision, combined with slightly more formal learning for those who are ready. We focus on creating positive, differentiated learning experiences that cater to each student’s emotional, social, and academic needs. With a carefully balanced approach that includes therapeutic support and personalised learning, we aim to ease anxieties and help students re-engage with their education at their own pace.

This class serves as a bridge, helping students prepare for a successful transition into other learning groups, ensuring they feel confident, valued, and ready to thrive as they progress through school.

Welcome to Sheeran class! We are based in The Farmhouse building which includes the Sheeran and Nightingale learning groups.

Our therapeutically designed classroom offers a variety of cosy and calm spaces which ensure all children feel ready to learn and acts as a home from home environment.

Our curriculum is designed and underpinned by a combination of playful, exploratory activities with more structured learning to support children’s cognitive, social and emotional development.

Our experienced and dedicated staff work hard to create a nurturing and safe environment where imaginative play, games and team building projects feature alongside our focussed, structured learning opportunities to meet all aspects of the Primary curriculum including phonics, literacy and numeracy. Our learning is tailored to meet the needs of all learners which allow them to achieve their personal learning goals.

This balanced approach provides a stimulating and supportive atmosphere, helping children build confidence and a love for learning.

Welcome to the Hockney Learning Group! We’re located in the lively art room, where creativity thrives. As part of our middle school provision, we offer a mix of core academic courses alongside other subjects led by enthusiastic specialists. Our curriculum is diverse and well-rounded, featuring a range of thematic and creative activities. We encourage our boys to take on responsibility and foster their independence as learners. Here students build resilience and gain a deeper understanding of themselves as both learners and young individuals. The structured learning we provide supports their cognitive, social, and emotional growth, preparing them for the next exciting phase of their educational journey.

In the Whittaker classroom, the curriculum supports the development of key skills in preparation for moving towards the upper school curriculum. The class provides structured learning opportunities and introduces timetabled sessions in a range of subjects, to develop interests and a love for learning while continuing to support the students’ cognitive, social and emotional development.

Brownlee is our primary transition classroom, supporting children as they move from The Farmhouse and on towards upper school. The classroom has cosy areas and is designed therapeutically to encourage children to feel calm and ready to learn.

Structured lessons are interspersed with discovery time, when the pupils can play with friends outside in one of our many outdoor areas. They can also choose to play games in class, read, draw or colour.

The curriculum is designed to allow all pupils to succeed and achieve their potential. Lessons are adapted to meet individual needs and tasks range from written to verbal, and from individual to class discussions.

Our experienced staff enjoy their time with our pupils, and we all work towards the same set of expectations and values, increasing our commitment to our class community. We are proud of our calm, kind and supportive atmosphere and of the progress our pupils make socially, emotionally and academically.

The Corbett learning environment is designed to provide a nurturing and structured environment for students whose primary need is developing communication skills and social interactions. Differentiated and tailored to meet the individual needs of each student, the class offers specialised support through targeted interventions and therapies, including Speech & Language Therapy, social skills programs, and assistive communication technologies.

With a focus on building confidence and fostering positive relationships, our dedicated team works closely with students to help them overcome barriers to communication, ensuring they can thrive both academically and socially. We use a combination of creative approaches, such as group activities, role-play, and personalised learning plans, to enhance each student's ability to express themselves and interact with others effectively.

In Hargreaves, the curriculum is specifically designed for all students to achieve to be the best they can be. We learn in a variety of ways from creative experiences, outdoor learning and in class daily structured learning. This ensures we accommodate all types of learners and enables them to learn at their own pace in their own way.

Through carefully planned learning all students develop a wide base of skills in literacy, oracy and numeracy. This is further developed by deeper learning around reasoning and problem solving across all subject areas to ensure each student has a good all round curriculum understanding. 

All staff in Hargreaves work as collaborative team ensuring they know and understand the students needs and can help support their individualised learning styles to meet the students needs on a daily basis.

Our varied approach provides an engaging learning environment where students want to learn.

Rowntree is a Key Stage Three class, where our students are beginning to explore an upper school timetable. The timetable gives the Rowntree students an opportunity to begin individualised opportunities and begin their WHSS BACC.

Students are beginning Entry Level Maths, Entry Level English, Arts Award Bronze, Hospitality and Catering and are preparing to start their Duke of Edinburgh award. Design Technology also provides opportunities to develop a range of skills. In addition to their qualifications, students also receive statutory RSHE/PSHE lessons and PD&HL (Physical Development and Healthy Lifestyles) lessons.

Students also have the opportunity to take part in individualised opportunities such as life and living skills, school jobs and student voice. The Rowntree staff team have a solid understanding of our students needs, supporting their individualised learning styles to meet their needs on a daily basis.

Priestley Learning Group is a Key Stage 4 class where all students follow an Upper School timetable. The timetable is bespoke for each individual which includes all lessons studied, as well as therapy sessions, OT/SALT input, music lessons and school jobs.

The students in Priestley class are all working towards either Functional Skills Level 1 or 2 English or GCSE English Language. In Maths students are working towards Functional Skills Level 1 or GCSE. Students are also offered the following subjects; GCSE Art, ELC Science, ELC History, BTEC Information and Creative Technology, Hospitality, OCR Life and Living Skills, Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award, as well as OCR Life and Living Skills. In addition to their qualifications, students also receive statutory RSHE/PSHE lessons and PD&HL (Physical Development and Healthy Lifestyles) lessons.

Each timetable is tailored to their individual interests and strengths and supports the students to achieve their WHSS Baccalaureate pathway. This provides students with the relevant qualifications needed to achieve well and be successful in life after The William Henry Smith School. 

Stewart is a Key Stage 4 class which includes students in both Years 10 and 11. At this stage of their education, the boys are being supported and prepared for their transition to college or sixth form as well as for adulthood in the wider world.

The boys are working towards achieving qualifications in English and Maths as well as a range of other qualifications and awards, including GCSE Photography; the Arts Award; certificates and awards in Construction, Woodwork, and Hospitality; Sports Leadership Level 1; Trainee Gym Instructor certificate; Learning in the Outdoors Level 1; OCR Life and Living certificates; and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Each boy’s curriculum is tailored to their individual interests, strengths and needs, and a balanced approach with structured lessons and active learning helps them achieve their full potential and gain self-confidence. The boys also benefit from work experience opportunities which allow them to explore career options and shape career decisions, learning new skills, understanding the work environment, and gaining further confidence as they continue to identify and build on their strengths.

A dedicated team of staff work hard to support the students on their individual pathways towards employment, independent living, community inclusion, and healthy living, as they prepare for the next stage of their lives.