Poplar Adolescent Unit

Welcome

Welcome to Poplar Adolescent unit and thank you for visiting our website.

We know that the young people who come to us are facing enormous difficulties and that they, their families and their carers need support and understanding.

The Education staff include qualified teachers and skilled teaching assistants who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Teamwork is a key component of our ethos and we work closely with other professionals within and beyond the unit.

We have particularly strong links with our sister unit in the North of Essex, The St Aubyn Centre Therapeutic Education Department and we share expertise and support between the two teams, benefitting both.

Our young people are all individuals. For some, coming to education will be a break from the other pressures in their lives and they will be keen to continue studying with us in preparation for returning to their own community schools. Others may have found school difficult and it will be our job to help them identify the problems and work towards solutions. Some young people will have dropped out of school altogether and, in these cases, we will be working with them to try to find a route back into education, employment or training in a way that is manageable and worthwhile for them. We have specialist teachers in many subjects including English, maths and science, and we support all levels of study from basic skills to A level.

We want all of our students to make progress in academic achievement and in the areas of resilience, self-esteem and hope for the future. Our personal, social and health education provision is a particular strength of our curriculum.

Over the years, we have worked with many young people who have gone on to build stable, fulfilling lives and it is this belief in the possibility of recovery that keeps us optimistic and full of hope for the young people we work with.

This website will serve as an introduction to our school; if you require any further information please feel free to contact us.

Charlotte Baulch - Headteacher, Poplar Adolescent Unit (Education)

Please have a look at the short film below. This was made by our Peer Support Worker with the assistance of one of the young people, gives a quick insight into the ward and education settings.

OUR ETHOS

At Poplar we provide a safe and supportive environment where all young people can find hope and self-belief and build resilience through a broad, flexible and ambitious curriculum. Our creative approach is individual and focused on the needs and potential of every young person as they move towards discharge from hospital and a positive future.

Comments from our recent Ofsted Inspection Report dated 24th/25th June 2025:

"This is a school where kindness shapes daily life. Pupils learn in a homely setting where they feel safe and valued. Even with the challenges they face, pupils find reasons to smile again."

"Warm, trusting relationships are at the heart of this school's community."

"The school has high expectations for every pupil. The school's curriculum, including sixth form, is carefully designed to build on pupils' varied starting points."

"The school manages behaviour with quiet authority and deep expertise. Staff build strong, trusting relationships. Pupils feel seen and understood."