Redefining education
We don't just educate; we nurture support and propel our pupils towards a future where their potential knows no bounds. Join us on a transformative journey, where education extends beyond textbooks, therapy nurtures resilience, and futures are shaped with purpose and promise.
Love of learning
We foster an excitement and a love of learning in our pupils by following the national curriculum. Our curriculum and tasks set are challenging yet achievable, enabling children and young people to grow in confidence and prepare for life beyond the classroom. We also provide enrichment activities through educational visits and field trips to support and enhance learning experiences.
With a backdrop of our small class sizes, with no more than eight pupils per class, each child and young person receives a bespoke curriculum tailored to their needs, which is fully integrated with our social development programme.
Our commitment to a well-rounded education includes a focus on social development. Through activities that promote collaboration, friendship, social interaction, and teamwork, pupils build essential interpersonal skills. These experiences help them develop communication, empathy, and the ability to work well with others. By developing friendships and a sense of community, children and young people learn to value diverse perspectives and support one another, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment that strengthens their social growth.
The results speak for themselves as young people leave us with nationally recognised outcomes at a level that is right for them, ranging from entry-level certificates to functional skills, BTECs and GCSEs. This equips them to confidently take their next steps into further education, apprenticeships or employment.
Our outstanding offer
Transitioning from primary school to secondary is challenging for any pupils and can become a barrier to learning. Our Year 7 Nurture Group provides a safe and supportive environment for children to adapt to this change and transition smoothly into their next chapter in education. The class is led by two dedicated teachers and supported by two teaching assistants for most of their timetable, ensuring consistency and care. Pupils follow the National Curriculum, while vocational subjects like PE, Art, Design Technology, and IT are taught by subject specialists. This approach not only enriches their learning experience but also helps pupils interact with a wider range of teachers and explore their new surroundings. The concept of the Year 7 Nurture Group is underpinned by a therapeutic diet designed for pupils to self-regulate, and access support throughout the academic year. This carefully structured setting enables pupils to make progress to Year 8 and beyond, and allows them to make academic progress as well as develop both personally and socially.
To support personal growth and develop a sense of belonging, pupils are paired with a team member who serves as their ‘champion’. They conduct regular key worker sessions aimed at helping young people to develop specific skills, express their thoughts and feelings, and feel supported in their mental health and wellbeing. Each session is tailored to the individual pupil’s interests and designed to build skills and self-esteem over time. For example, one pupil with a strong interest in the armed forces was matched with a key worker who had prior experience in the military. Together, they participated in Forest School activities and embraced the challenges of a military-style camp. Another pupil with a passion for art was paired with an art champion, who introduced them to local art groups that work with young women to refine their artistic talents.
We strongly believe in providing our Year 10 and 11 pupils opportunities to experience the world of work through our work experience programme. Liaising with the Futures Team, we actively work on building partnerships with local businesses so that a range of industries are on offer to pupils. This exposure helps young people to develop key interpersonal skills, while also encouraging ambition and a strong work ethic. Combined with our emphasis on social and emotional development, this opportunity prepares young people to become confident, resilient individuals who contribute meaningfully to both the school and their local communities.
Empowering through sport
We have officially partnered with the Johan Cruyff Foundation, which was set up by one of the world’s greatest sporting icons. The aim of the organisation is to support and develop sports activities for children and young people all over the world.
The school’s state of the art Cruyff Court, is an all-weather pitch which supports small group sports, including football, basketball, volleyball and netball. The aim of the space is where pupils can grow, make friends and improve their mental health.
Therapy
Our on-site Clinical Team provide pupils with unrivalled levels of therapeutic support, in terms of the level of expertise, the ratio of qualified therapists and clinicians to children and young people, and the range of therapies offered. Pupils have the support of our Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and other specialists as required.
We believe that unless a child or young person is able to feel emotionally safe and secure, they are less likely to fulfil their personal, social and educational potential. Our unique approach to supporting young people through our Wave Model enables them to go on to realise a future filled with aspiration and achievement.
Chilworth House Upper School's Clinical Team complete thorough and skilled assessments that support a shared understanding of the complex needs we see in our children and young people. This enables us to put purposeful and appropriate interventions in place and assess our effectiveness through the tracking of outcomes and impact.
Futures
At Chilworth House Upper School we are dedicated to raising the aspirations of our pupils, while also equipping them with the skills and confidence to realise outstanding outcomes.
The Futures programme inspires and connects pupils with their next steps beyond education, utilising a growing network of over 350 employer partnerships, including the likes of Microsoft, Mercedes and John Lewis, to provide outstanding experiences of the workplace and ongoing opportunities and support.
Our Futures sessions provide practical guidance on job applications, confidence-building, networking, and workplace expectations, giving children and young people the tools to navigate their career paths with clarity. Complementing this, our Futures curriculum enriches academic growth while developing personal development and career readiness, ensuring they are prepared for their chosen paths. With no upper age limit on support, the programme boasts a 100% success rate in transitioning students into education, employment, or training.