West Heath School (special school) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Heath 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 | Mr Alexander Hamilton |
| Website | http://westheathschool.com/ |
West Heath School is a special independent school located in Sevenoaks, Kent, England. It helps young people aged 11 to 19 who find it hard to learn in regular schools for different reasons. The school's motto, "Rebuilding Lives Through Education," shows its main goal: to help students get back on track with their learning and lives.
The school started in its current form in 1998. It is built on a large estate with 31 acres of parkland. This land was leased from Mohamed Al-Fayed, who also gave a lot of money to help set up the school. Before West Heath School, the building was home to West Heath Girls' School, which was a boarding school for girls that closed in 1997.
Contents
A Look Back: School History
The buildings of West Heath School have a long history. 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 an important historical building that needs to be protected.
One famous student who attended the girls' school from 1974 to 1977 was Diana Spencer, who later became Princess of Wales.
Saving the School
In the 1990s, the girls' school faced money problems because fewer students were joining. It eventually closed in 1997. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund thought about buying the school, but decided not to.
Then, Mohamed Al-Fayed stepped in. He bought West Heath for £2.3 million in 1998. He also promised to give more money to help equip the school. He wanted to create a new school there, which became known as The New School at West Heath. He believed this was a fitting way to honor Princess Diana's work.
Starting Fresh
The New School at West Heath officially opened on September 14, 1998, with Valerie May as its first Principal. It started with about 30 students. In 2000, the school began offering boarding options, where students can live at the school. There are six boarding houses, each named after one of the school's trustees: Tarrant, Sissons, Astor, Ruth, Hunniford, and Esther.
To make more space for classrooms, a new, modern teaching block was added. In 2010, the famous singer Madonna visited the school. She even helped one student (whose name is kept private) with their education there. In September 2015, the school changed its name to West Heath School.
How the School is Run
The school has a special group of 10 Trustees who help guide its decisions. The founding patron of the school was Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Here are some of the key people who manage the school:
- Principal: Alex Hamilton
- Head of Education (for the school): Rob Walton
- Head of Boarding: Tracey Goodland
- Head of Post-16 (support for college students): Kelly Bennet
Important Information for Students
West Heath School is for students aged 11 to 19, both boys and girls. Many students who come to West Heath have not had the chance to get a formal "Statement of Special Needs" (SSEN) in the past. This statement helps identify what special support a student needs.
School Costs and Funding
West Heath School is not a state school, which means it doesn't get direct funding from the government. However, it receives money from different sources to help students attend. These sources include:
- Local Education Authorities (LEAs)
- Social Services
- Health authorities
- Bursaries (financial help for students)
- Families who pay for themselves
Each student has a yearly review to make sure their needs are being met and to see if any changes are needed in their education. The school has also received money from Children in Need and teachers and students have done their own fundraising activities for the charity.
Class Sizes and Student Numbers
To make sure every student gets enough attention, class sizes at West Heath School are kept small, with a maximum of 10 students per class. The school currently has about 101 pupils.
After School: Post-16 Support
West Heath School teaches students from Year 7 to Year 11. It also offers a special program for students aged 16 and older. While the school itself doesn't teach A-level subjects, it provides "support" to students who go to college elsewhere. Many of these students continue to live in the school's boarding houses while attending college.
Helping More Children: FaCE
The school has a fundraising program called FaCE, which stands for "Fund a Child's Education." This program helps the school support more children who need its special education. There is often a long waiting list of students hoping to join West Heath School, and FaCE helps make that possible.
