Ysgol Hen Felin, Rhondda Cynon Taf

Much of the RAISE grant at Hen Felin has been used to fund the services of two key workers to run an outreach programme with Ferndale Community School in key stages 3 and 4. Selected pupils from Ferndale visit Hen Felin once a week for joint workshops with pupils from the school. The sessions are run by Music Therapist Jody Bell, who has created a course based around speech and voice projection to develop the communication skills of those involved. Jody also employs drama and role play activities that are specifically designed to develop self-confidence and social skills. The workshops end with relaxation exercises to help the pupils to learn how to cope with stressful situations.

Statement from Andy Henderson
Headteacher

“Many of our pupils come from disadvantaged backgrounds and we have observed that the skills that they have acquired from the outreach workshops have been transferred into different settings. The development of their personal and social skills has had an impact on their academic achievement, enabling them to access the curriculum more effectively.

“The same results have been observed among the pupils who attend from Ferndale Community School. Our partnership with the school is vital to the programme, and we are committed to working together and learning from one another to find solutions to improving the well-being of disadvantaged pupils.”