Description
West Heath School is Independent Secondary school in Not applicable for kids aged 10 to 20 (Gender - 10 to 20 )
West Heath School is a unique educational environment set in 32 glorious acres of Kent countryside, on the outskirts of the town of Sevenoaks. The staff passionately believe in the transformative power of education to change the lives of the young people in our care. The philosophy is to create a nurturing environment, centred around a holistic approach, whereby young people are welcomed, accepted for who they are, and their educational needs are balanced with an understanding of their therapeutic requirements. The intuitive staff are reflective practitioners who work collaboratively with the students’ families and external professionals, to ensure that the students make sustained progress and develop a resilience that will be their mainstay in their future lives.
Facilities
Juniors
At West Heath we welcome primary-aged learners in Year 6 only, where they are taught by specialist teachers, using the primary model. We want all our children to enjoy school, to be enthusiastic and to work hard, in order to achieve their full potential. Therefore, they give the children the broadest and best educational opportunities possible, by striving to provide inspirational, challenging and creative learning opportunities. We endeavour to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in the school.There is a high staff-student ratio with a maximum of 6 students in a class. The timetable is adapted to suit the needs of the students and is very flexible. Typically, the students are taught their core subjects in the morning by their Form Tutor and they then will access the rest of the curriculum by being taught in the specialist areas of the school including Performing Arts, PE, Catering, Creative Crafts and Art to name but a few.
Lower School
The Lower School consists of KS2, Year 7 and Year 8, where we focus on creating a nurturing environment for students to feel comfortable to allow learning to take place effectively.The corner stone of the direction is Respect & Manners and this is a key area we regularly encourage, exhibit and celebrate within the Lower School. We believe that when students demonstrate these core values or traits, their academic ability will develop as well as their social skills – ready for life in KS4 and further education.
Upper School
Upper School is an exciting time for all students. It marks a turning point in a student’s life when they discover talents and spend their lessons developing new skills. Students choose four option subjects to compliment their core studies in English, Maths, Science, Life Skills, PE and Self Science. These four courses can be selected from a range of up to seventeen subjects. These range from academic classroom-based subjects like GCSE History and Science, to vocational off-site courses such as BTEC Animal Care or City & Guilds qualifications in construction or mechanics.
Features
Things to note
Therapy
Therapy at West Heath plays a major part in the social, emotional, mental health, behavioural and physical wellbeing of our students. Whilst not officially designated as a “therapeutic school”, the whole approach is underpinned by a ‘soft’ therapeutic approach which permeates everything from our curriculum to our behaviour management.Whilst many of our students have a specified therapeutic requirement on their Education, Health and Care Plans, most of our students will access our therapeutic department at some time or other during their time with us, whether it be for help with emotional regulation, a reduction in stress, anger, or anxiety, a readjustment of maladjusted thinking patterns, to provide practical problem-solving, help with social skills, difficulties with sensory issues, or just a safe place to off-load. Although numbers obviously vary from year to year, currently over 80% of our students are receiving therapeutic support of one kind or another, and a large percentage are receiving more than one.
Extra Curricular
Please check the school website link for details.
0.85 miles
