About the school
St. Giles is a school for pupils with physical disabilities and complex medical needs whose ages range from 4 – 16. We also have a resource for pupils with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties) from 11-19. In September 2011 we opened a new PMLD resource for reception aged children. The school admits pupils from a wide catchment area which includes the whole of Croydon and the boroughs of Sutton, Surrey, Bromley, Merton, Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark.
History
The school was opened in 1925 and was originally sited in Thornton Heath. In 1933 the school moved to Featherbed Lane, Addington. In 1977 it moved to its current purpose-built accommodation in Pampisford Road, South Croydon.
Accommodation
St Giles is a single-storey building, divided into two main sections, which are linked by a ramped corridor. The upper tier contains the reception area, administration offices, staffroom and a 3 classroom PMLD resource, including two state-of-the-art sensory rooms. It also houses the medical, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy departments. The school has a multi-purpose hall and has its own indoor, heated swimming pool.
The lower tier contains the main classrooms and is divided into separate Primary/Early Years Foundation Stage and Secondary Departments. The Primary Department consists of four teaching bases, each with a large central area and two smaller side rooms. One of these classrooms is dedicated to teaching pupils in the Early Years. The Secondary Department has specialist rooms for all main National Curriculum subjects. In addition there is a Library, with its own information technology resource area, and a Music Room, which are used by all Departments.
The school is set in its own spacious grounds with separate recreation areas for each age group. The School house is adjacent to the school and is due to be developed into an area for teaching and developing independent living skills.
Staffing
The school staff includes teachers, specialist teaching assistants, a social care team, nurses and therapists, supported by administration, catering, premises management, technical and cleaning staff.
All school staff are specially trained to become experts in working with pupils with physical disabilities and complex medical needs.
In addition there are a number of additional staff who provide specialist services:
- Educational Psychologist
- Advisory Teachers for Sensory Impairment (visual and auditory)
- Careers Advisor from Connexions
- Education Welfare Officer
- School Doctor
- Dentist
- Audiologist
- Chiropodist
- Dietician
- Orthotist
- School counsellors from Croydon Drop-In
- ‘Willow’ Grief and Loss counsellors
- Music Therapist from Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
Governors
There are twelve Governors on the Governing Body, which meets every term. They include representatives from staff, parents, the Local Authority and the community. The three committees, Curriculum, Personnel and Finance and Estates also meet every term.