Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (QEGS)

QEGS logo Local Offer

 A former private school, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, based in Blackburn with Darwen, is now a 4-19 co-educational free school.

This is a state-funded independent school so, while we no longer charge fees, we retain an independent-school ethos, placing strong emphasis on high academic standards, exemplary behaviour and extra-curricular commitment.

This combination, as we know from our 500 years of experience, is a guarantee of success, as our results show year after year.

We believe that all young people, including those identified as having SEND, have a common entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum, which is accessible to them and enables them to be fully included in all aspects of school life. 

We aim to offer excellence and choice to all our pupils, whatever their ability or needs, and we strive to ensure that all our pupils feel that they are a valued part of our school community.

We have high expectations of all our pupils, which we aim to achieve through the removal of barriers to learning and participation.  

Who to contact

Contact Name
Shabnum Arshad
Contact Position
SENCO
Telephone
01254 686300 x623 01254 686300 x623
E-mail
sarshad@qegsblackburn.com
Website
www.qegsblackburn.com
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Where to go

Name
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Address
West Park Rd, Blackburn BB2 6DF
West Park Road
Blackburn
Lancashire
Postcode

BB2 6DF

View BB2 6DF on a map
Notes

Parking 

Parking on West Park Road is limited. There is free parking for 3 hours on the lower section of West Park Road.

Accessibility

We are set on the side of a hill and our historic buildings are spread across the site. Parents are strongly advised to make arrangements to visit the school when considering applying to the school for a child with accessibility needs.

Costs

Details
Education is free of charge.

Availability

Referral required
No
Other notes

The school takes 50% of its pupils form within Blackburn with Darwen and 50% from outside this area.

 If you are considering naming QEGS on your school application for the senior school, you will need to register your child to sit the fair banding test. This includes children with an EHC plan or IPRA. 

Please refer to the school website for the admissions criteria or contact the admissions officer.

Local Offer

Description

The school has an 'Accessibility Plan' which helps us to improve our provision for learners with special educational needs on an ongoing basis.

Ancillary aids and assistive technologies which we are using or will be using in school include:

  • Laptops available for pupils with specific learning differences
  • Coloured overlays for pupils with specific learning differences
  • Hearing aid transmitter and receiver for hearing impaired pupils
  • Lift in the sixth form building 
  • Disabled toilet in the sixth form building
  • There are two designated disabled parking spaces. One in Singleton car park and one outside the main reception.
  • The nearest train station is Blackburn station, it is 1.3 miles away.
  • The nearest bus stop is on Dukes Brow, it is about 400 metres away.
Contact Name
Shabnum Arshad
Contact Telephone
01254 686300 x623
Contact Email
Sarshad@qegsblackburn.com
Links
Learning support
Local offer and policies
Local Offer Age Bands
5-11 years
11-16 years
16-19 years
Needs Level
Low
Medium
SEN Provision Type
Universal
Targeted

Schools Extended Local Offer Response

How does the setting/school/college know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

At times it may be necessary to consult with outside agencies to access their more specialised expertise. The agencies used by the school include: 

  • CANW (Child Action North West) counselling service
  • Safeguarding Advisors Educational Psychologist team
  • CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service)
  •  SEND Support Service (Blackburn with Darwen)
  • Social Services
  • ELCAS (East Lancashire Child and Adolescent Services)
  • NHS – this can vary from hearing impaired support to working with physiotherapists
  • The Heights Alternative Provision Free School

 

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

All QEGS staff are involved in supporting our pupils with SEND and so we make sure that staff have training to help them to do this.

 

  • All our staff are DBS checked. If you require more information on this issue please contact Mrs Barbara Burke in Bursary office on 01254 686300.
  • Updates are made available to staff via staff briefings, face to face meetings and the Learning Support Folder which is updated annually.
  • External training is available to support the staff as required. Recent examples of such:

Safeguarding training
Epipen training
Whole school dyslexia awareness INSET
Whole school INSET on high frequency SENDs e.g. Hearing impairment, Sight Impairment, Physical difficulties, ASD, ADHD and Speech and language communication needs

  • Our SENCO Miss Shabnum Arshad has completed  the National Award for the Special Educational Needs Co-ordination Qualification.
  • Specialist support assistant for pupils with specific learning difficulties.
  • The School also commissions the SEND Support Service of the Blackburn with Darwen Local Authority to deliver relevant training.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child's/young person's needs?

We use a variety of ways to assess whether a young person has SEND. Some of these include:

  • Prior information from primary schools
  • Induction evenings
  • Information from parents and carers
  • Information from the young person
  • Observations and discussions from adults who work with the young person
  • School based tracking
  • School based test results. Baseline assessments in English and Maths.
  • Diagnostic assessments for in-depth information about pupils' learning needs.
  • Specialised assessments carried out by members of the school support services.
How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child's/young person's learning?

Parents and teachers should forward concerns to the SENCO, Miss Shabnum Arshad: sarshad@qegsblackburn.com 

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall well being?

• Staff will support pupils in their class by ensuring work set is tailored to their needs and abilities.
In many cases pupils can benefit from very straightforward support solutions e.g. adjusting seating positions in the classroom, the provision of large font learning resources or differentiated work/resources to enable access to the curriculum more easily.

• For other pupils with complex or more severe learning difficulties, the SENCO, in conjunction with specialist support, if necessary, will advise subject teachers on what support is needed.

For more detail please see the school’s SEND policy and inclusion policy.

What specialist services and expertise are avaliable at or accessed by the setting/school/college?

Pupils at QEGS follow a curriculum of 10 subjects.

In core subjects, pupils are placed in sets according to their ability: English, Maths and Science.

 

What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had? Are any being trained currently?
  • Differentiation in lessons
  • Study lessons for KS4 pupils
  • Subject support clubs at lunchtime and after school
  • Homework Club in the library after school for senior school pupils
  • 1 to 1 support with a specialist dyslexia TA (senior school)
  • Small group work with TAs focusing on literacy and numeracy
How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

Pupils’ targets and levels of working are monitored through a robust colour-coded tracking system. Pupils in danger of falling below their end-of-year targets are monitored by their Form Tutor, Head of Year or Head of department.

Monitoring progress is an integral part of teaching and leadership within QEGS:

  • School based tracking
  • Monitoring of pupil’s targets throughout the year
  • Teacher marking, observations and questioning
  • Curriculum tests and standardised tests
  • Discussions with school staff
  • Discussions with parents and carers
  • Discussions with the young person
  • Assessment grade sheets are sent home per the Assessment map and meetings arranged if needed
How accessible is the setting/school/college enviroment?
  • Use of school planners
  • Home-school partnership through Class Charts
  • Some small group intervention lessons with TAs in English and Maths are available
  • Individual intervention lessons with specialist TA for some pupils with specific learning difficulties
  • Parents’ Evening meeting with SENCo to review your child’s Pupil Profile and progress
  • SEND review meetings and Pupil Profiles highlighting the contribution of school and parental support
How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?
  • Every pupil is a member of a Form, and their Form Tutor acts as their daily mentor.
  • Further support comes through the Heads of Year, who liaise closely with Form Tutors and subject teachers to ensure every pupil feels safe and happy and thrives in all aspects of their school life.
  • Attendance, punctuality and behaviour are monitored closely on a daily basis and parents contacted if there are concerns.
  • Meetings can be arranged to resolve issues around the pastoral needs of a pupil.
  • Pupil representatives voice concerns at student council meetings.
  • There is a comprehensive PSHE programme which is followed in Form Periods and PSHE lessons.
  • Drop-in sessions available to see the School Nurse Counsellor
  • CANW counsellor for extended periods of counselling.
How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

There is a range of lunchtime and after-school clubs – see web site for full list.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

Transfer to Key stage 3

  • All parents of pupils who join us in Year 7 are invited to our informal Parents' Evening, and have the opportunity to meet with members of our school staff.
  • All pupils who join the school in Year 7 are invited to attend our Transition day to enable them to meet other new pupils and their form tutor in a day of fun activities.
  • We liaise with all primary schools and request information on all pupils with SEND and this information, where relevant, is shared with school staff.
  • If further support is needed for pupils with SEND and vulnerability factors, the SENCO will also meet with parents, primary staff and pupils at the primary school to discuss possible barriers and the provision required
  • Additional induction days are arranged as required

Year 9 and Year 11

New Directions attend Annual Reviews and visit pupils in schools to discuss future options.

Careers department to assist pupils in their future career and college choices.

Post 16 provision

  • Any relevant documentation concerning SEND pupils are transferred to the next provider.
  • Where appropriate visits will be arranged and facilitated by the Learning Support and Careers departments to help pupils make the right choice for them.
  •  Careers department to assist pupils in their future career and college choices.
How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

Advice is sought from the advisory teachers at BwD SEND SS who are able to recommend appropriate resources and equipment.

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