__________NELSON (UNITED KINGDOM)__________

   Pendle Community High School & College is a Special Educational Needs school in a deprived area of east Lancashire. Our students have a wide range of issues:- Moderate, severe, complex and multiple learning difficulties; Autistic spectrum disorders - Speech, language and communication needs, Physical difficulties and medical needs - Sensory needs i.e. visual, hearing and multi-sensory impairment - Social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Many students have complex multiple needs and some 15% of the students are in care and many have already lived through profoundly difficult times.

   The area is known for rapid urbanisation and equally rapid decline. It was once famous for its cotton industry and with the rapid decline of the mills the economy in the area has never really recovered. The school and community is a mix of Asian and White British and recently there has been an influx of Eastern Europeans to the area. The area has a high proportion of deaf or hearing impaired people, a result of working in the cotton mills. Around 2/ 3 of students are White British and virtually all others are of Pakistani origin and speak English as an additional language.

   Our high school (11-16 years) has approximately 100 pupils and college (16-19 years) has 40 students. We have received a number of awards including an Excellence Award for Innovative Practice and Inclusive Learning. The school also won a national Ethical Award for community work at a local nature reserve. Our students' data is always low when compared nationally, although recent changes to national assessment now means we can use our on-line assessment tool which supports us to show small steps of progress. In this way our students demonstrate some progress even if it is less than expected national standards.