Pathways Blog - 24.10.25

In the blink of an eye, we say goodbye to the first Autumn ½ term! We also say goodbye and good luck to Mr Darnbrough, who has secured a position at another school in our Multi Academy Trust. Throughout his working career, Mr Darnbrough has always sought to help and support people, and it has been no different at Pathways. Mr Darnbrough is a positive role model for all pupils and has had a real impact on his Activ8 class. He leaves us with nothing but out sincerest thanks and best wishes.  

Over this half term, I have had the joy of reading and hearing feedback from pupils, staff, families and visitors about how welcoming and settled the campus is, and how polite and respectful our pupils are – this follows our 3B ethos of “Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Ready to Learn”. 

I have said in an earlier blog about the nights drawing in, and this is even more apparent now. Fireworks are becoming more commonplace as we come closer to Bonfire Night. 

Please take care and stay safe during this period - Greater Manchester Fire Service have provided some safety tips, which can be found here: Fireworks Safety - Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service 

Enjoy your extra hour as the clocks go back on Sunday 26th October and I look forward to welcoming pupils back on the 3rd November. 

Mr Southerington  

 

 

CL1

It’s been a fantastic and busy term in CL1, full of learning, teamwork, and new experiences! 

In Maths, the class has been working incredibly hard on place value, addition, and subtraction. We’ve been using practical resources, games, and real-life examples to help us understand the value of each digit in numbers and to practise adding and subtracting with confidence. Everyone has shown great focus and determination, and it’s been brilliant to see students challenging themselves and celebrating their progress. 

In Community Living, CL1 has been developing important life skills such as planning, organisation, and independence. This term, we worked together to plan and prepare for a trip to Starbucks. Students helped with each stage of the process — from researching what’s on the menu and thinking about prices, to practising how to order politely and use money in a real setting. 

All that preparation paid off when we finally set off on our trip to Starbucks! The students showed fantastic behaviour and confidence as they ordered their own drinks and enjoyed a well-earned treat. It was a wonderful opportunity to practise social and communication skills in a real-world environment — and everyone represented CL1 brilliantly! 

We’re so proud of how much progress the class has made this term, both in the classroom and out in the community. Well done, CL1! 

CL1 - 24.10.25

 

CL2CPR 

Last Friday we had a Harry Potter day in school, we all enjoyed various workshops and CL2 enjoyed a Potions class with Mrs Palmer (Professor Sprout) The students loved watching would happen when we mixed all the ‘chemicals’. 

In our Pathway lesson, we concentrated on developing the skills we need to make toast and a hot brew - a very important task. 

Well done to all. 

Have a great half term and stay safe. 

CL2 - 24.10.25

 

 

A Wonderful Half Term in CL3  

As we reach the end of this half term, I just wanted to take a moment to say how incredibly proud I am of all the yougn people in CL3. They have worked so hard since September and have truly settled into the school year brilliantly. Every single one of them has given 100% effort in their learning, shown fantastic behaviour, and demonstrated a real sense of maturity and teamwork. 

One of the highlights of this half term has been our trip to The Lowry!  The visit was a wonderful way to bring together our English and Community Living learning. The pupils really enjoyed exploring the Quentin Blake exhibition, where they were able to spot and identify many of Roald Dahl’s famous characters and stories. They also had the opportunity to put their learning about customer service into practice when we visited the café - showing politeness, patience, and confidence. Well done, CL3! 

It has been an absolute pleasure teaching CL3, they’ve made me smile every single day, 

Thank you so much for all your support this half term, it really makes such a difference. Have a wonderful and well-deserved break! 

Mr Wilson, Miss Holland and Mrs Hollinworth 

 

 

CL4 

This afternoon CL4 came together for a celebratory, spooktacular end of half term well done.  This was to recognise how hard the young people have worked over the last 8 weeks. 

CL4 - 24.10.25

 

Digi 2

This Half Term, Digi 2 have been working towards their first WJEC qualification by completing their first portfolio. Everyone has worked exceptionally hard towards this goal and should be very proud of themselves. We had some challenging moments, but everyone persevered wonderfully and continued to show the upmost effort even during those harder moments. Unit 1 out of 3 complete fantastic work.

Digi 2 - 24.10.25

 

Digi 1

Over this half term, Digi1 have been developing their IT skills through a practice of learning how to navigate online basics and email etiquette, alongside development of their knowledge of IT fundamentals. They have been making excellent progress and developing their independence wonderfully. The students are flourishing in other areas such as developing their cooking skills and their ability to work together as a team in their PE lessons. Digi1 have been a delight to teach over this half term and I’m looking forward to seeing them again on the run up to Christmas next half term. 

Enjoy your break, gang! 

Mr. Banks 

Digi 1 - 24.10.25

 

English Term Overview –  Autumn 1 Magic and Mischief 

This term, our English journey has been filled with wonder, creativity, and a touch of mischief! With the theme Magic and Mischief, students have explored the power of words through literature, art, persuasive writing, and real-world experiences. 

Literary Adventures 

We began by celebrating Roald Dahl Day, diving into the wild and witty worlds of Matilda, The Twits, George’s Marvellous Medicine, and The Witches. Students explored character traits, created magical recipes, and designed persuasive posters to promote their favourite Dahl stories. 

Inspiring Visits 

A highlight of the term was our visit to The Lowry, where students explored the imaginative illustrations of Quentin Blake. This inspired descriptive writing and visual storytelling, linking art and literature in powerful ways. 

We also enrolled at our local library, where students began regularly accessing books, discovering new genres, and building a lifelong love of reading. 

 

Writing Highlights 

Persuasive Posters: Promoting magical books and reading for pleasure. 

Emails & Letters: Demonstrating  persuasive communication by expressing opinions and requests in character.  

Creative Writing: From potion recipes to diary entries, students brought their magical ideas to life with flair and imagination. 

 

 Harry Potter Day – A Magical Hook for Autumn 2 

We ended the term with a spellbinding Harry Potter Day, which served as the perfect hook for our continuing theme of Magic and Mischief in Autumn 2. Students were immersed in the wizarding world through a series of magical experiences including a woodland walk, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, and a celebratory feast. These immersive activities sparked curiosity, creativity, and excitement, setting the stage for even more imaginative adventures next term! 

 

English - 24.10.25

 

Food Tech

This term in Food it is all about breakfast! The pupils have been cooking up omelette, egg bites, French toast and pancakes! Next half term we are broadening our horizons with some breakfast dishes from around the world.

 

🌍  

 

In options we have been touring the UK with our recipes, the pupils were particularly fond of the Scottish favourite cranachan.

 

🏴

 

Food Tech - 24.10.25

 

Lumenus KS4 - Ms Pilgrim & Miss Sinclair 

As we reach the end of another busy and creative term, it is time to celebrate some of the brilliant learning that’s taken place across our Lumenus Pathway. 

This term Lumenus KS4 students have been diving into the world of physical theatre. They have explored how movement gesture and expression can tell powerful stories without words. From dramatic free frames to ensemble pieces inspired by professional theatre company Geko, our budding performers showed impressive creativity and collaboration. It has been wonderful to see their confident grow with every lesson.   

Our English topic this term focused on Matilda by Roald Dahl. Pupils explored the story through range of exciting activities that help them develop their writing language skills. 

They learnt how to extend sentences using conjunction and descriptive detail, write thoughtful letters to Miss Honey, and even created interview questions for their favourite characters. These activities helped everyone practice empathy, imagination and the power of well-chosen words.  

We also celebrated a Harry Potter day, where pupils dressed as characters from the book. Students engaged in several workshops throughout the day which they enjoyed tremendously. 

This term also saw our school council elections take place. Pupils bravely presented their ideas for improving our school and took part in a democratic vote. A big well done to all the pupils who put themselves forward to be school council representatives this term. It takes confidence and commitment to speak up for your classmates, and every candidate show fantastic enthusiasm. Congratulations to our newly elected representatives for Lumenus KS4. We can’t wait to see the positive changes and ideas you bring to our school community. 

Miss Sinclair and I would like to give a special mention to our year 10 students who have settled in so well to their new classes and routines. The positive attitude and enthusiasm has been fantastic to see. A huge thank you also goes to our year 11 students who have helped make the transition smooth and supportive. Their guidance and encouragement have really made a difference, helping year 10 students to feel confident and ready for the challenges ahead. 

As we wrap up the term, we are proud of all our students for the hard work creativity and kindness. We hope they have a restful break, as next term will be an extremely busy one with the Christmas performance. We can’t wait to see what they bring to the new term. 

Lumenus - 24.10.25

 

Lunchtime

A big thank you to Rozz, Sophie and Kerry in the kitchen for always cooking up nutritious healthy meals for our pupils. Today they put on a fabulous spread! 

 

Mr Mwakamele gives us an update on the school premises...

We are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that our building, along with its facilities and equipment, is not only safe but also welcoming and secure—an exceptional environment designed to nurture the aspirations of young people. Our efforts are firmly aligned with government legislation, regulations, and our organisation’s robust policies and procedures. 

To truly meet the needs of our youth, we go beyond the essentials. Our initiatives include thorough deep cleaning, vibrant painting, thoughtful decoration, and meticulous general repairs throughout the building. We handle both planned maintenance and emergency work with care. Additionally, we take great pride in servicing our equipment and facilities to consistently meet and exceed safety standards. Every aspect— from fire systems to air conditioning units, hoists, machines, and beds—is maintained to function flawlessly. Together, we are creating a dynamic space where young people can excel and realise their fullest potential.