As part of its journey towards becoming a Free School in September, Westside has been offered a new home in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.  The new building offers fantastic facilities and huge indoor sport & leisure spaces in a small mews just off Hammersmith’s King Street.  Easy transport links offering fast access from all parts of West London are just five minutes’ walk away.

If a child is not thriving in mainstream education and would do better in a small-scale, nurturing environment like Westside, please get in touch.  We offer individual focus, and special educational needs support.  Westside Free School is expanding slightly in size but will continue to offer a safe, family-like setting in which to build up self-esteem and engagement with education, through a six-GCSE and vocational curriculum.  Students for September 2013 are expected to visit and try a few days in the summer term of this academic year.

Westside School.  Back on track...in education.

About us

Westside School is based in the London Borough of Westminster, one hundred yards from the Harrow Road, just on the border with the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.  Westside opened in October 2006 on a charitable basis.  It exists to give those young people an opportunity to achieve their learning goals in a supportive educational environment.  Many of our students have found the large and often rigid setting of mainstream education very challenging and have been either excluded or at risk of exclusion.  Several students come from families facing stress, often bereavement.  We spend a great deal of time focusing on the individual needs of all our students.

We offer full time alternative educational provision for students in Years 9, 10, and 11 who have disengaged from mainstream education.  The school offers a full-time GCSE programme of study.  The focus of Westside is to support both the academic, personal and social achievement of our students.  We also aim to equip our students with the necessary life skills to prepare them to become part of their communities, and get back on track in education or work.

The school is managed by a Head Teacher and a committed team of specialist staff who are experienced in dealing with vulnerable and challenging young people.  The school benefits from the support of an active board of local trustees who are committed to lifting the educational opportunities of the young people.

Here are some testimonials from our students:

Student 1                                  Student 2
Student 3                                  Student 4
Student 5                                  Student 6
Student 7

Our principles are very clear and transparent:

• Every child can learn and achieve.
• Every learning opportunity must be taken.
• Learning contexts are varied and should be used creatively.
• The ability to work hard and a preparedness to learn must be nurtured.
• Individual and group achievements are equally important.
• Teaching students to think effectively and applying learning is paramount.
• Parents/carers need support to be active partners.
• We encourage an appropriate participation with the community.

Our curriculum is highly structured and we offer:

A core offering of 5-6 GCSE subjects at Foundation level and a variety of non-examined vocational qualifications.  To reach this level of achievement and ensure re-engagement, we offer individually-focused educational and personal support, a varied sporting programme, creative studies, external trips amd summer work placements.