After two secondary school breakdowns, first at a small independent grammar school and then at an autism specialist school, my son spent a significant period out of education. During that time, we were fortunate to have an amazing tutor who supported him with maths and English at home. Throughout this period, the local authority struggled to find a school that could truly meet his needs.
A friend from Disley saw a news article about High Peak School and shared it with us. After reading the article, I contacted the school and arranged a visit to meet the Principal.
Following the visit, I approached our local authority to discuss a placement for my son at High Peak School. As many parents will understand, the process was not always straightforward.
His previous school had told us that he would achieve no qualifications and even suggested a residential placement. For us, that was completely out of the question.
I cannot say that the transition to High Peak School was smooth or easy, and the transformation did not happen overnight. Staff took the time to get to know him, build a trusting relationship and understand his individual needs. From there, he began studying Functional Skills in the core subjects alongside a BTEC Level 1 qualification in Food Technology.
This gave him the confidence to realise what we had always known: that he was capable of sitting exams and progressing to college.
Art had always been a challenge for him and he disliked the subject. However, his art teacher encouraged him to try photography. He enjoyed it so much that he passed his GCSE, and the following year achieved an A* in Photography.
Alongside GCSEs in Combined Science, English and Maths, and a BTEC Level 2 qualification in Food Technology, these achievements enabled him to progress to a mainstream local college, where he successfully completed a Level 3 Creative Media course.
The transition to college was also supported by High Peak School. A teaching assistant accompanied him to college for several months, helped him develop independent travel skills and gradually built his confidence in a mainstream setting.
Not long after my son joined High Peak School, I began volunteering there. I had previously stopped working when his last school placement broke down. I was later offered a permanent role as a Teaching Assistant, starting the following September. Initially, I planned to leave when my son finished school in July 2019, but I'm still here today.
High Peak School changed my son's future, and in many ways, it changed mine too.
