Our Senior School is based in Marylebone, Central London. We provide a nurturing, mainstream-style education with a specialist approach to support the unique needs of each student. As an independent special school, we are committed to creating an environment where academic development and personal growth go hand-in-hand.
Integrated therapeutic education
Our multidisciplinary team of educators, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists work together to deliver an integrated therapeutic education. This holistic approach ensures that every student receives the support they need to thrive, both academically and personally.
Diverse pathways
We offer a range of qualification pathways, from Entry Level Certificates to Level 2 NVQ/BTEC and GCSEs in core subjects like English, maths and biology. This flexibility allows us to cater to the individual needs and strengths of our students, whether their goal is to return to mainstream schooling, progress to other specialist schools, or continue their studies at our own Senior School.
Enriching experiences
Beyond the classroom, our students have ample opportunities to engage in a variety of co-curricular activities and enrichment programmes. From sports and creative arts to outdoor learning in the nearby Regent’s Park, we strive to nurture the whole child and foster their interests and talents.
Supportive transitions
We recognise that the transition to secondary school is a significant milestone in a child’s development. Our Senior School students are supported with increased responsibilities, privileges, and challenges to help them develop the skills and confidence needed to achieve independence beyond our doors. With flexible class structures and personalised support, we ensure that each student’s needs are met during this important phase of their education.
The school day
At Abingdon House School, we pride ourselves on creating a vibrant, engaging, and supportive environment where our pupils can thrive. As an independent special school, we are dedicated to providing a holistic education that nurtures academic progress and personal development in equal measure.
Preparing for the day
Our school day begins at 8:30 am, with pupils arriving and settling into their classrooms. To help our students start the day on a positive note, we begin each morning with a 20-minute wellbeing lesson or activity. This could involve mindfulness exercises, team-building activities, or discussions on social-emotional topics. By focusing on the whole child, we ensure our pupils are mentally and emotionally prepared to engage in their learning.
Engaging in the curriculum
From 8:45 am to 3:30 pm, our pupils participate in a full schedule of lessons and scheduled breaks, with core subjects like English and Maths taught in the mornings. Our timetable is designed to provide a balanced, mainstream-style curriculum, covering subjects such as science, humanities, creative arts, and life skills. Throughout the day, our multidisciplinary team of educators, therapists, and support staff work together to deliver an integrated, personalised approach that addresses each student’s unique needs and abilities.
Enrichment and recreation
In addition to their academic studies, our pupils have the opportunity to participate in a variety of enrichment activities during the school day. At least three times a week, our Lower Senior School students engage in Enrichment Lessons, which could include sports, arts, or community-based projects. These sessions allow our students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build social connections.
During break and lunch times, our students have access to a range of supervised activities and facilities, both on-site and in the local community. They may use the school facilities, visit the nearby Feathers Community and Youth Centre, or head to one of our local parks, depending on the weather.
Home/school partnership
At AHS, we value the importance of a strong home-school partnership for supporting our students’ holistic development. Through clear communication and sharing of specialist approaches we aim to provide a level of consistency that empowers students to apply the academic, life, and social skills they develop at school in the wider world.At AHS, we believe that a strong home/school partnership is essential to the holistic development of our students. Through clear communication and mutual support, we provide a consistent approach to students’ lives, empowering them to transfer the academic, life and social skills they develop at school into the wider world.
A shared commitment to student success
Our staff are in regular, open communication with parents and carers, ensuring that we work together to support each child’s unique needs and aspirations. We offer a range of formal and informal opportunities for families to engage with the school, including:
- Parent workshops run by our specialist staff help to support parents’ knowledge whilst also sharing resources and approaches that we use at school so that they can also be used at home.
- Regular information evenings, Heads Coffee Mornings and events which cover topics relevant to our pupils and their families
- Frequent informal check-ins and updates from teachers and therapists
- A strong and active Parents’ Association that collaborates closely with the school leadership
A phone-free environment
To improve teaching, learning and safeguarding, we use a secure lockable phone pouch system to ensure students cannot use personal phones or smart devices during the school day. This gives the student more autonomy over their mobile devices and develops their independence. This is in line with the latest Department for Education guidelines which make clear schools must be phone free.
We fully recognise that mobile phones have many useful features. However, we have also seen that learning, engagement and social interactions improve significantly when students are fully focused on their lessons and peers.
How the system works
- Each day, students will collect a pouch from a secure classroom box when they arrive in school.
- Their phone will be locked inside the pouch under the supervision of a member of SLT.
- Students will keep the locked pouch with them throughout the school day.
- At the end of the day, the pouch will be unlocked by a teacher and returned to the classroom box.
- Pouches remain in school – they are not taken home.
The pouches use signal-blocking technology, preventing any access to mobile phones during the school day. This approach ensures a consistent, fair and distraction-free learning environment for all.
Secure Lockable Phone Pouch FAQs
What happens if my child is late?
Pouches will be stored at reception so when your child signs in, they can get a pouch and lock their phone in it.
When will my child’s pouch be unlocked?
Pouches will be unlocked when students leave at the end of the day. It is an incredibly quick process so learning time will not be lost. Students should unlock their pouch at a fixed unlocking location and then continue moving before taking their phone out of the pouch. Some end of day supervisors also have hand held detachers to assist.
What if my child forgets to unlock their pouch?
The school office will have an unlocking device should students forget to unlock their phone at the end of the day.
Will the unlocking device be with teachers or outside?
Key staff around school will have their own unlocking station as well as wall mounted unlocking stations at all the exits.
What is the policy on smart watches?
Smart watches will also need to be put into the pouches.
Does this only apply to smart phones?
The policy applies to all mobile devices.
