About the school
St. Giles is a school for pupils with physical disabilities and complex medical needs whose ages range from 4 – 16. Most of our pupils also have learning difficulties associated with their disabilities including some who have profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). There is a Further Education Unit for our pupils with PMLD from 16-19. The school is a Specialist School for Physical and Sensory need. We admit pupils from a wide catchment area which includes the whole of Croydon and surrounding boroughs.
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, 3 classroom specialist PMLD classrooms and 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 Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary and Secondary Departments. The Secondary Department contains classroom bases and specialist rooms for Art, Science, ICT and Food and Design Technology. In addition there is a Library 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 has been 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)
- Independent Careers Advisor
- 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
- Roundabout Drama therapist
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.
For more information regarding the St Giles School Governing Body, please visit our Governing Body page.