Success Stories
Chris Barber
I was thrown out of school four and a half days after starting at secondary school, after this I was sent to a PRU for two weeks where I was told that my place at school had been closed and I would have to find another school. Meanwhile I was being home schooled while my LEA found me another placement.
In between all this, I saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADHD and prescribed me Ritalin to try and help me focus and concentrate.
My LEA then contacted me and gave me two choices, a day school for "bad boys" with over 200 pupils or Grafham Grange. I came for a day visit and enjoyed it. I decided to come to Grafham.
"My life at Grafham Grange has given me the confidence and opportunities to peruse higher education and I am currently in the process of applying for a place at University to study Art and Design/Animation."
My first impressions of the boys at Grafham were that they were a bit rough and, due to the fact that I was living with pupils older than myself, I felt the need to show off and impress. This led to a few confrontations with other pupils and, because of my age and immaturity, I fought back thinking this was the right thing to do. Obviously it wasn't and I ended up in trouble and had to take responsibility and the consequences for my actions.
Grafham has helped me since this and, through the actions of the staff that have worked with me on a one-to-one basis in key working sessions, and through my art therapy, I have realised how to express myself in positive ways.
One of the highlights of my time at Grafham Grange has been the annual school summer camps. These have been great for bonding with my peers, the staff and especially the new pupils, as it allowed us to get to know one another with out the pressures of school.
Within school I was put in for two of my GCSEs early which I think helped to give me confidence for when I took the rest of them while in year 11. When it came to taking my GCSEs in year 11 the support and guidance from the staff (both teaching and residential) at Grafham was phenomenal.
I was able to stay on late at school to complete extra work with the support of my teachers. It was this that really helped me achieve my five A to C grades. If it wasnt for this support I would have never been able to access my year 12/13 placement. This support didnt just stretch to the academic side; it also helped secure the funding for me to access the courses that I wanted to do.
My life at Grafham Grange has given me the confidence and opportunities to peruse higher education and I am currently in the process of applying for a place at University to study Art and Design/Animation.
Thank you Grafham.