Curriculum

At GEM Hereford, we offer a holistic, therapeutic, and individualised approach to education, designed around the specific needs of each student. We believe that how we teach is just as important as what we teach, ensuring that students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Central to our ethos is the development of positive, trusting relationships and a strong sense of belonging. These foundations help our students engage with a broad and balanced curriculum that has been carefully adapted to suit a wide range of needs. We celebrate every success—no matter how small—so that students recognise their progress and feel proud of their contributions to school life.

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Our school environment is calm, friendly, and nurturing. Class sizes are small, and all students benefit from autism-friendly spaces, attachment-aware staff, and quiet, calming areas where they can take time to decompress when needed. From the outset, we carry out initial assessments to identify each student's developmental needs, allowing us to create tailored learning packages that support academic, emotional, and social growth.

We work in close partnership with parents and carers to ensure every young person is supported to reach their full potential. Each student follows a personalised plan and receives 1:1 support where required.

We aim to follow the National Curriculum as closely as possible, while adapting our approach to secure the best outcomes for each individual. All students have access to a wide range of subjects, including:

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  • English (including phonics)

  • Mathematics

  • Science

  • Humanities

  • Art & Craft

  • Computing

  • Design & Technology (DT)

  • Physical Education (PE)

  • Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education (PSHE)

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PE takes place on-site or in our school hub, and we also work with external providers to offer enrichment opportunities such as swimming, trampolining, gymnastics, and more. Students are encouraged to connect with nature through gardening activities, including growing vegetables and designing a wildlife-friendly garden, which also links to our cooking sessions in the school kitchen.

Life Skills is an important part of our curriculum and includes practical topics such as budgeting, using public transport, and navigating community resources like libraries. As students progress, they will also receive careers education to help them plan their next steps.

At our Trinity site, much of the curriculum is taught through thematic topic-based lessons, allowing students to explore their interests in a cross-curricular way that embeds learning. At our Hildersley site, students follow a more formal National Curriculum pathway and work towards qualifications such as GCSEs, Functional Skills, BTECs, and AQA Unit Awards.

“Teachers provide lessons in ways that suit each individual pupil. Lessons are bespoke and typically matched well to pupils’ needs. Pupils engage well and achieve well because staff are quick to address misconceptions or provide guidance.”
— Ofsted 2024