Mr Stephen Stokes Welcomes You.

“Ready to Learn - Ready for Life”

Dear Parent/Carer,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Hednesford Valley High School, a Good school where students and staff are valued, respected and inspired to reach their full potential.

Set against the backdrop of Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Hednesford Valley is a maintained secondary special school supporting 195 students from Years 7 to 14 with a wide range of additional needs.

As a qualified SENCO, with a passion for SEND and over twenty years’ experience of supporting children and young people across a range of settings, I was privileged to become Headteacher in September 2022. Over the past four years, our school has continued to develop and strengthen its provision, and I am incredibly proud of what our students and staff have achieved together.

During this time, we have experienced a positive Ofsted inspection, achieved our National Autistic Society accreditation and received recognition for our Post-16 provision as an example of excellent practice. These achievements are important to us, but they are not an end point. They reflect our commitment to continually improving what we offer and ensuring that every young person receives the support, opportunities and challenge they need to thrive.

Our mission, “Ready to Learn, Ready for Life,” underpins everything we do. It is brought to life through our school values of Teamwork, Respect, Independence, Confidence and Kindness, which shape our expectations, relationships and wider school community.

Our success, however, does not come from a single initiative or “magic trick”. Our approach is grounded in evidence-informed practice, combined with the expertise, hard work and commitment of our outstanding staff. We continually reflect on what works best for our students and adapt our teaching, support and wider provision to meet their individual needs.

As you explore the Curriculum section of our website, you will see that our curriculum is designed around the individual needs, aspirations and future destinations of our students. Alongside developing the knowledge and skills that provide the foundations for lifelong learning, we place great importance on developing the whole young person. This includes opportunities such as travel training, life skills, work experience, health and fitness, cooking, educational visits and preparation for adulthood.

Ultimately, our ambition is simple: for every young person to leave Hednesford Valley as well prepared as possible for the next stage of their life, equipped with the knowledge, skills, confidence and independence they need to succeed.

I would like to thank you for taking an interest in our school and invite you to explore the rest of our website. I hope it gives you a real sense of the warmth, ambition and commitment that make Hednesford Valley such a special community. If you would like to know more, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or telephone.

Yours sincerely,

Mr S Stokes
Headteacher