Forest School
We had a fabulous time at Forest School this half term. The students enjoyed a walk around the site and discussion about various plants and trees. We then settled to some tool work. All the students listened carefully to the safety information about the tools and worked well to use the bow saw to cut wood cookies. They also used hand drills and thread string through to create a spinner.
Some students then used hammers to nail holly leaves and wound wool to create beautiful Christmas decorations. Some students built shelters using ropes and tarps. They were all super safe around the fire when toasting tea cake or muffin for our break.
There was a really lovely supportive feeling to the sessions between the students as they interacted with each other in a really lovely way, helping and suggesting how to make things better. It was a super day and everyone relaxed into the session and embraced the outdoor nature of Forest School.
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Exam Success
Hawthorn Education is proud to celebrate a strong record of exam success that reflects the dedication of our students and their teachers. We currently teach and administer Entry Level and Functional Skills qualifications in Maths and English, providing accessible but rigorous pathways that support learners of all backgrounds to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Our very first cohort of students has set an impressive benchmark, achieving an overall pass rate of 89%. This success demonstrates not only the effectiveness of the teaching and assessment approaches, but also our commitment to high expectations, personalised support, and calm, well-structured examination environments. These results give us great confidence as we continue to grow. Building on this strong foundation, Hawthorn Education will expand its curriculum in 2026 to include many additional subjects, enabling us to meet a wider range of learner needs while maintaining the same high standards. We remain focused on empowering students to succeed, progress, and take pride in their achievements. A huge congratulations to all of our students who achieved so highly.
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Christmas Gifts
A lovely gesture by our team in Blackpool – Christmas cards, gifts and certificates for all their students before they head off for their upcoming two week Hawthorn hiatus.
We know that Christmas may not always be the most enjoyable time for some people, but at Hawthorn Education we want to make sure that all our students are reminded that they are the very centre of all we do.
A small token of our appreciation for them at this time of year will hopefully bring a smile to their faces and remind them that they are always welcome with us.
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Proud to be Blackpool
There’s been a lot in the news again this term about Blackpool being one of the “most deprived” areas in England — but those of us who live and work here know there’s so much more to this town than statistics. We see every day the warmth, resilience, humour, and heart that make Blackpool what it is. From the promenade and the piers to the parks, cafés, and schools, this is a community full of life and potential. The recent BBC piece captured it perfectly — locals saying they’re “fed up of people dissing Blackpool” and reminding everyone that our town is vibrant, sassy, and full of genuine goodness.
At Hawthorn Education, we see that same spirit in our young people and families: strong, creative, caring, and determined to build brighter futures. That’s the real Blackpool — proud, tough, and endlessly hopeful.
#ProudToBeBlackpool #CommunitySpirit #HawthornEducation #FyldeCoast
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Student Shout-Outs
Ollie
Ollie has been with Hawthorn for nearly two years. When he arrived he was a very anxious young man and struggled to engage in his lessons at school. He struggled with his mental health and coping within a school environment. During his time at Hawthorn, he has progressed so much with his mental health and engaging in his education.
Ollie receives his education within his home environment and receives a more personalised approach to his curriculum. He actively looks forward to his education each day from his tutors and enjoys to chat and find out what they have been up to during the week and engage in his lessons. We have seen a great improvement in Ollie’s English during this time, reading everyday, aloud to his teachers. He has shown a massive improvement in his Maths and enjoys to use different manipulatives to support with his learning.
During his time at Hawthorn, teachers have helped Ollie with his social activities, regularly accessing the community with teachers which has helped build his confidence and he enjoys to cook, with support, and create projects using different crafts and materials. Well done Ollie. Keep up the good work!
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Frankie
This term we have seen significant success with Frankie who had previously struggled to engage in his English lessons. Over the past two weeks, he has completed a sustained block of English with enthusiasm and creativity. We began by exploring the Loch Ness Monster, using adjectives to describe the creature. Building on this, he designed his own imaginative sea creature and developed a newspaper article that included all the key features of the genre.
He applied the 5 W’s – who, what, why, where, when – to structure his story effectively and ensure it was detailed and purposeful. Although he was reluctant to write the article by hand, he independently used voice-to-text technology to record his ideas, making the work his own. This demonstrates both resilience and adaptability, as he found a way to overcome a barrier to writing and still produce a complete, high-quality piece of work. Overall, this marks a significant breakthrough in his engagement with English, showing both progress in skills and a positive shift in attitude.
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Elise
A recent home learning visit with Elise was a real pleasure and showcased her growing confidence and independence. After speaking with her mum, a baking activity was agreed, and Elise was ready and eager to begin on arrival. She chose to make an apple cake and demonstrated impressive kitchen skills, including good hand hygiene and safe knife use. When weighing scales were unavailable, Elise showed excellent reasoning by estimating quantities, drawing on her understanding of division and fractions.
The baking process was thoroughly enjoyed, and plans were discussed for a follow-up session. On the next visit, Elise arrived enthusiastic and well prepared, having helped shop for the remaining ingredients. With scales available, she carefully followed the recipe instructions and learned new techniques, such as gently folding ingredients together.
While the brownies baked, Elise calmly settled to complete her English work, willingly writing notes and staying focused. It was a highly productive and enjoyable set of sessions, highlighting Elise’s enthusiasm, practical skills, and positive attitude to learning.
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Amber
After a hesitant return to education, Amber has made a remarkable turnaround. This began with a planned trip to the wool shop to select wool for crocheting a baby blanket for a family friend. We prepared her by explaining the shop is usually quiet and friendly, and Mum reminded us that Amber can find busy shopping environments challenging.
Amber walked from the car to the shop with us, chatting happily along the way. On entering, she was immediately engaged by the wide variety of wool and made careful choices with our support, selecting colours and the appropriate crochet hook. She was proud of herself for making these decisions independently.
We celebrated her success with a visit to a quiet café for hot chocolate, using the time to plan her first granny squares. When Amber returned later in the week with her wool, she began crocheting straight away and remained calm during the student changeover in the Hub, only stepping out briefly for a vape break. Between crocheting, she completed excellent Maths work.
Mum also reported that Amber had successfully gone clothes shopping earlier in the week, walking into town, choosing her items, and enjoying the outing. We are extremely pleased with Amber’s progress, noting the positive impact of these structured, supportive experiences on her confidence and engagement.
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