West Heath School (special school) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Heath School (SEN SCHOOL) |
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| Address | |
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Ashgrove Road
Sevenoaks
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Kent
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TN13 1SR
England
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| Coordinates | 51°15′18″N 0°11′10″E / 51.255°N 0.186°E |
| Information | |
| Motto | "Rebuilding Lives Through Education" |
| Established | 1998 |
| Principal, CEO | Mrs Photini Bohacek |
| Website | http://westheathschool.com/ |
West Heath School is a special independent school located in Sevenoaks, Kent, England. It helps young people who find it hard to learn in regular schools. The school's motto is "Rebuilding Lives Through Education," which means they focus on helping students grow and succeed.
The school started in its current form on September 14, 1998. It was first known as the Beth Marie Centre. The school is set on a large 31-acre parkland. This land is leased from Mohamed Al-Fayed, who also gave a lot of money to help the school. Before this, the building was home to West Heath Girls' School, which closed in 1997.
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A Look at West Heath School's History
The school buildings have a long and interesting past. They were once part of West Heath Girls' School, a private school that began in London in 1865. In 1932, the girls' school moved to this site, which includes an old 18th-century house called Ashgrove House. This house is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important.
One famous student who attended the girls' school from 1974 to 1977 was Diana Spencer. She later became Princess of Wales. In the 1990s, the girls' school faced money problems because fewer students were joining. It eventually closed in 1997.
How West Heath School Was Reopened
After the girls' school closed, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund thought about buying the property. However, they decided not to. Instead, Mohamed Al-Fayed bought West Heath for £2.3 million on May 20, 1998. He wanted to use it for the Beth Marie Centre. He also promised to give an extra £550,000 to help equip the school.
Mohamed Al-Fayed shared his thoughts, saying he was surprised the Princess Diana Memorial Fund didn't show more interest. He believed helping this school was a better way to honor Diana's work.
The school officially reopened as The New School at West Heath on September 14, 1998. Valerie May was the first Principal. It started with about 30 students. In 2000, the school began offering boarding options. Today, there are six boarding houses, each named after one of the school's trustees: Tarrant, Sissons, Astor, Ruth, Hunniford, and Esther.
In September 2015, the school changed its name to West Heath School.
Who Manages West Heath School?
The school's first main supporter, or patron, was Mohamed Al-Fayed.
West Heath School is managed by a group of 10 trustees. These trustees help make important decisions about how the school is run. You can find the names of the current management team on the school's official website.
What West Heath School Offers
West Heath School welcomes students aged 11 to 19, both boys and girls. It helps students with various learning, emotional, and behavioral needs. This includes students who might have conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), autism spectrum conditions, dyslexia, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Tourette syndrome.
Many students at West Heath School have not had the chance to get a formal Statement of Special Needs (SSEN). This statement helps identify what special support a student needs.
The school is not a state school, which means it doesn't get direct government funding. However, it receives money indirectly from different sources. These include Local Education Authorities (LEAs), Social Services, and Health authorities. Some students also attend with a bursary or are self-funded. Each student has an annual review to make sure their needs are being met.
To join West Heath School, students usually need a referral from their Local Education Authority or Social Services. This is because West Heath is a Special School. The school currently has 101 students.
Academic Achievements at West Heath School
West Heath School helps students achieve their best, even with their unique learning needs. Here's a look at some past academic results:
GCSE Results in 2004
- Number of 15-year-old students: 20
- Students achieving 5 or more GCSE passes (grades A*–C): 0%
- Students who did not achieve at least one entry-level qualification: 20%
- Average total GCSE point score per 15-year-old: 121.3 points. (For comparison, a nearby non-special needs school, Sevenoaks School, had an average of 498.2 points.)
GCSE Results in 2003
- Number of students: 31
- 16-year-old students achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A*–G: 89%. (The specific number of A*–C passes was not published.)
- Average total point score per 16-year-old: 23.8 points. (For comparison, Sevenoaks School averaged 66.8 points.)
- Students with Special Educational Needs: 100% of students.
Key Stage 3 Tests in 2002
These are tests taken before GCSEs.
- Students achieving level 5 or above in English: 0%
- Students achieving level 5 or above in Maths: 22%
- Students achieving level 5 or above in Science: 0%
- 15-year-olds achieving 5 or more grades A*–C: 4%
- 15-year-olds achieving 5 or more grades D–G: 32%
- 15-year-olds who did not achieve at least 5 G grades: 64%
GCSE Results in 2000
- Students achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A*–C: 33%
- Students who did not achieve at least 5 GCSE passes: 67%
- Students who did not achieve any GCSE passes: 17%
- Students with Special Educational Needs: 100%
- Students with SEN who had formal statements: 61.9%
- Students with SEN without formal statements: 38.1%
- Number of students: 42
GCSE Results in 1999
- Students achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A*–C: 21%
- Students who did not achieve at least 5 GCSE passes: 79%
- Students who did not achieve any GCSE passes: 11%
Life After 16 at West Heath School
West Heath School teaches students from Year 7 to Year 11. It also has a special program for students over 16. This program helps students get support from the school while they attend college elsewhere. The school itself does not have teachers for A-level subjects. Many students continue to live in the boarding houses at West Heath while they go to college.
