Learning Support

Whitgift's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision is designed to support students with learning difficulties, whatever their nature, which hinder their educational development thus preventing them from reaching their potential.

Departmental and In-Class Support

The department is well-resourced and our highly-qualified staff specialists assess and teach students with Specific Learning Difficulties across the School. When students enter the Junior Years they are screened for spelling and writing skills and students with identified specific difficulties are offered additional support in class and through dedicated support sessions around their main timetable. Students entering the School with a current assessment report have their needs addressed accordingly. 

Strategies to Support Learning

Students with identified difficulties are placed on an SEN register, which is circulated to all staff, and some students have Student Information Sheets with strategies to support their learning. Teaching staff are kept informed of students' needs and there is regular liaison between the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) and Heads of Year to monitor students' progress.

Social skills workshops are run for those students who need to further develop their social interaction to ensure they happily and successfully integrate into the School community.

English as an Additional Language

Students with English as an Additional Language may be offered support to develop their spoken and written language.

The SENCo liaises regularly with the exams officer with regard to exam concessions and access arrangements in line with JCQ guidelines. In house assessments may be offered where appropriate.

Whitgift felt the most ‘real’ of the independent schools I had seen and I was struck by the humility of the staff and boys I had met. It was welcoming from the get-go, warm, and I instantly thought my boys would thrive here if they were lucky enough to get a place.

QUOTE FROM CURRENT PARENT (2020)