Our School
Highgate Hill House School is a Special Educational Needs (SEN) specialist provision located on the Devon and Cornwall border in Whitstone, near Holsworthy. The school supports learners aged 5-16 with a wide range of additional needs, including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), ADHD, Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) challenges, anxiety, learning delay, trauma, as well as learners with needs in the broad areas of Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, and Sensory and Physical needs. We support both verbal and non-verbal learners, ensuring tailored support for individual requirements.
Our school is set in extensive grounds which offer learners regular opportunities to develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment.
We believe in a holistic approach to developing resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. This gives learners the opportunity to enjoy success, and supports their learning in the classroom.
We place a big focus on team building and problem solving to develop learners’ abilities to build positive relationships and develop their thinking skills.
Our learners enjoy access to our Outdoor Learning Programme and benefit from the therapeutic benefits of our Forest School approach. Our Outdoor Learning Programme also allows learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.Â
Because of our unique location, we are able to offer fantastic extra-curricular learning opportunities. These include visits to Tamar Lakes, where learners are able to take part in water sports, such as canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, visits to the coast at Widemouth Bay, and visits to Dartmoor, where learners take part in a wide range of activities such as Geocaching, mountain biking, orienteering and bouldering.
We also have a kitchen garden and learners have the opportunity to take part in our ‘field to plate project’, where they grow fruit and vegetables, which they then prepare as part of our community meal times. This offers numerous opportunities for learners to develop new skills and learn about science, nutrition and nature.
Learners can get involved in designing, planting, maintaining, harvesting and preparing, and also have the opportunity to work cooperatively in groups.
At our school, we believe in the value and importance of building positive, trusting relationships with young people to gain a deep understanding of each learner’s needs. This enables us to provide individually tailored provision which facilitates and supports each child’s unique way of learning.
Our Offer
We are proud of the extensive services we provide to our learners and families, which include the following.
Our school’s ethos and aims are to uphold our Purpose, Mission, Vision and Values which are:
Purpose
To equip every learner with the foundations, education, qualifications, skills, and opportunities needed for lifelong success.
Mission
To provide an excellent, specialist educational pathway to help children achieve their full potential.
Vision
To be a leading provider of high-quality specialist education, prioritising safety, trust and respect for all learners to help them achieve their full potential academically, emotionally and socially.
Values
Our school values are:
Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be Ready
Kerry Taylor, Principal BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQML, NASENCO, Trauma Informed School Practitioner
Wishing you a very warm welcome to Highgate Hill House School.
​I feel very proud to be Highgate’s Principal, having joined the Melrose Education group in July 2022. I have over 19 years of experience of working within schools and have been in school leadership roles for over 10 years. Having lived all over the country in various cities, towns and villages, I happily relocated to Cornwall when I took a position at HHHS, three years ago. I feel very privileged to be part of the Highgate family, situated in a unique school which is just a stone’s throw from so many wonderful local amenities.
It was during study for my first degree in Psychology when I developed a particular interest in neurodiversity and behaviour. As a SENCo in previous roles, I have worked alongside teachers and parents to improve the educational provision for children, ensuring that each learner receives the individual support that they require to be successful in school and life. I am also an experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensure the safety of our learners is at the very heart of our school.
Improving outcomes and educational experience for learners with neurodiverse needs is a subject I am passionate about. I believe all children are entitled to an excellent education which is both enjoyable, and treats them as a whole child. We celebrate the fact that each child is different, and as such, the curriculum package that we create for each learner is bespoke.
​As a staff team, we work closely with families alongside our young people, to give them the support they need. All children need to have consistency and reliability from the adults that work with them, and everybody is greeted with a smile and compassion every day.
​The staff at Highgate Hill House School are highly skilled and dedicated to providing learners with a safe and supportive environment in which they can thrive. We will be glad to welcome you for a visit should you wish to learn more about us.
​We look forward to meeting you!
Our Latest News
-
Melrose Education is celebrating the success of learners at its Highgate Hill House School who... -
Highgate Hill House School, a Melrose Education school, has been shortlisted as a finalist for... -
Melrose Education has reinforced its commitment to inclusive employment practices by committing to being a...
