‘Learning is exciting at Firwood.’
(Most recent OfSTED, March 2023)
Welcome
Welcome to Firwood High School
On behalf of our students, staff, governors and the Woodbridge Trust, I am delighted to welcome you to Firwood High School.
I am incredibly proud to be joining Firwood as Headteacher and to be part of a school with such a strong sense of purpose and such an important role in the lives of our young people and their families.
Our mission, ‘Learning Without Limits’, captures what we believe about every young person. We want all our students, whatever their needs, starting points or preferred way of communicating, to experience a highly ambitious, personalised education that enables them to discover their strengths, develop their independence and prepare confidently for adulthood.
At Firwood, we believe that every young person has the right to make meaningful choices, communicate in their own way, be listened to, develop new skills and be proud of who they are and what they achieve. Success looks different for every student, and we celebrate those achievements while continuing to have the highest aspirations for their future.
Our commitment to preparation for adulthood runs throughout the whole of our provision, from Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 through to Sixth Form. We want our young people to leave Firwood with the knowledge, skills, confidence and experiences they need to live fulfilling and increasingly independent lives and to make a valuable contribution to their communities.
I am also passionate about creating a school where every young person, member of staff and family feels that they belong. Our values of innovation, respect and professionalism, uniqueness, aspiration, success and empowerment provide a strong foundation for this. These values sit alongside the Woodbridge Trust’s commitment to kindness, respect and integrity, and our shared ambition of ‘Inspiring Successful Futures for All’.
I bring more than twenty years of experience in education, including senior leadership roles in teaching and learning, inclusion, safeguarding, behaviour and personal development. Throughout my career, I have been driven by a simple belief: the right school can make a profound difference to a young person’s life. I am excited to bring that experience to Firwood and, alongside our exceptional staff, students, families and wider partners, build on the school’s strong foundations and continue its journey of improvement.
Most importantly, I want Firwood to be a place where young people feel safe, feel valued, have a voice, are ambitious for themselves and know that they belong.
I hope you enjoy exploring our website and discovering more about our wonderful school. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, or if you would like to talk to us about any aspect of Firwood, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will always be happy to help.
Kindest regards,
Carl Heatley
Headteacher
Firwood High School
