Pinderfields Hospital School

We're also keen to hear your story, so if you're a past pupil of PHPRU please do get in touch on alumni@pinderfieldshospitalpru.co.uk.

My name is Helena and I started attending this school towards the end of year 9. I came here because of my confidence issues within my anxiety which affected my ability to attend a mainstream school. Due to previous bad experiences of education in conjunction with family issues, I found it difficult to socialise and I withdrew myself from life.  

When I came to PRU, this was the fresh start I needed in order to begin improving my mental health. At the beginning I remember feeling frustrated and embarrassed in myself that I wasn’t able to live a fulfilling life. I worried a lot that I didn’t have the capacity to have a career in the future and I was uncertain how my life would look like. I was soon welcomed by the teachers and staff and in time I viewed PRU as a safe space where I could be my individual self.

 In my lessons I often found the content of work challenging because of my difficulty with concentrating. This led me to become uninterested in core subjects and I essentially gave up on thinking I could even achieve anything. It was the teachers here who were able to recognise what I was capable of- when I couldn’t see it myself. Even with my disinterest the teachers always remained patient and never gave up on my dismissal. The teachers here are fantastic at making each lesson engaging and person centred, in this I became more open to   learning. Often in these lessons I was particularly quiet but when it came to art, I was able to express myself in a way that was loud. At PRU this was the first time I found myself around a truly positive network.

Weekly I had sessions with Alice to improve my personal development. When I started these Alice helped me to set small goals. These small goals eventually progressed to bigger goals and to this day I still use this technique to continuously challenge my mindset. Being around other pupils in similar circumstances allowed us to relate to each other and in time I developed a long- lasting friendship with a fellow peer.

At the end of my time at PRU I was hesitant to move on to the next stage, but PRU made this transition gradual, easing me into the world outside of school.  

Leaving with satisfactory GCSE’s was the steppingstone to my successful years in further education. From PRU I then went to Barnsley college where I studied Art and Design Level 2 and then I moved to Leeds Art’s University to complete my Level 3. I am now Studying Fine Art at Liverpool John Moore’s University with a part time job as a care assistant where I have moved out of home and gained valuable life skills. In my art practice I challenge my anxiety by using pattern as a therapeutic tool, turning negative experiences into pieces I am   proud of. Currently, I am exploring future career options where I am interested in perusing being an art teacher. I feel more motivated than ever to build the life I desire, and I know I will do this each step at a time!  

I want to say a huge thank you to ALL the staff at PRU for continuously supporting me through this long journey of life.  

I came here because I was struggling in school and because of my mental health in general. I wasn’t doing anything or leaving the house.

I started to attend here and at first I was quiet and kept to myself. But through the staff’s help and the support of the other students, I became more confident and started to express myself. I found the confidence to become the person I really wanted to be and transitioned from Phoebe to Alex.

Now I’m doing what I want to do for my dream job which is working with animals.

Thank you staff and students.

Mya

Honestly, before I started at the PRU in Year 10, things were pretty rough. I hadn’t actually been in school for about six months because my anxiety was just through the roof. If I’d stayed at my old school, there’s no way I’d be at college right now doing my Level 3 in Health & Social Care.

The biggest difference for me was the people. It’s a lot calmer there. If I was ever feeling overwhelmed or anxious about something, I wasn’t just forced to "get on with it." People like Alice (the Personal Development Leader) and Bea (my English TA) were there to support me. They’d let me sit and just process things, either by myself or with them, until I felt okay again. Having calm people around you makes such a difference.

I also ended up finding out I was actually good at stuff I’d never even tried before. I’d never done Art as a proper subject, but I ended up loving it and came out with a Grade 8 in my GCSE.

Food Tech was another highlight. I’m not saying I’m a pro chef, but I managed to stop burning everything! I even cook at home sometimes now.

The PRU didn't just help me get my grades; it helped me get back on track when I thought I was stuck. I'm loving being at college now, and I definitely wouldn't have made it here without that support.