HAMILTON SUPPORT BASE

Hamilton Support Base offers Secondary Education to young people who learn in a safe and inclusive environment. Every young person is supported to reach their maximum potential through a rich, varied, and bespoke curriculum. The base offers a support network which consists of teaching staff, school support staff and Youth Family Community Learning workers. In addition, there is also input from outside agencies. This ensures a nurturing space where young people make progress towards their personal and academic goals. Respect, kindness, and honesty are the foundations of our practice here at Hamilton Support Base. 

Qualifications Offered

Pupils can achieve a range of the following qualifications at levels from National 3 through to Advanced Higher.

• Art & Design
• Biology
• Dance
• Dynamic Youth Awards
• English
• Geography
• Mathematics
• Media
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Photography
• Physical Education
• Practical Cookery
• Sports Leader Award
• Travel and Tourism

Clubs and Activities Provided

We offer a range of clubs and activities which complement the curriculum and allow young people to gain additional skills; such as communication skills, problem-solving skills and team working skills. These skills are essential in helping our young people when moving on to their positive destinations. The clubs offered are listed below.

• Chess Club
• Dungeons and Dragons
• Eco-Schools Group
• Film Club
• Gaming Club
• Table Tennis

News and Achievements

Young people at the base achieved success in National Qualifications, including Advanced Higher, last session.

At the start of the academic year, we introduced a new reward tracking system and by the end of the first term most young people achieved their Gold Award.

The eco-club is in place and initial plans have been approved. The base has erected a new fence around the school grounds which will allow the eco-group to plan and develop the garden area in the confidence that the area is secured. The group is working towards achieving the Eco-Schools Flag. The eco-group has recently been on a successful field trip to Whitelee Windfarm and they are planning a trip to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.

Last year all young people who left Hamilton Support Base went on to a positive destination.

The young people planned and held a successful Christmas Fayre for the community. This included organising a raffle and tombola, making and selling Christmas crafts, and serving tea, coffees, and homemade baking.

Hamilton Support Base managed to secure funding of £1000 from Kellogg’s. This funding has allowed us to enhance the breakfast club by providing a wide variety of healthy snacks. In addition to allowing the pupils to try new foods it has also ensured that pupils have a positive start to their day.

Pupils within our senior phase have taken part in work experience programmes. One such placement has been at Blantyre Leisure Centre where the young person has worked both pool side and in the gym.

Staff launched a ‘You Said, We Did’ initiative. To collect views, we used an online questionnaire where opinions and ideas could be submitted anonymously. One issue raised was a lack of working Chromebooks. This has now been addressed with each pupil having their own working device. This is a beneficial initiative where pupils know their viewpoint is valued and listened to.

Our enhanced transition programme will be beginning soon. This programme will allow upcoming Primary 7 pupils to get know the staff and pupils within their base as well as helping them to become familiar with the building itself.

Hamilton Support Base