About Highgate Hill House School

Our School

Highgate Hill House School is a Special Educational Needs school situated on the Devon and Cornwall border at Whitstone, near Holsworthy. The school supports learners aged 5-16 with a wide range of additional needs, including Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Social and Emotional Mental Health, and Sensory and Physical.

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. 

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 Purpose, Mission, Vision and Values are central to everything we do at Highgate Hill House School.

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

TREES

Togetherness

Respect

Enjoyment

Empathy

Success

Kerry Taylor, Principal BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQML, NASENCO

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 for nearly 9 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 a year 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.

I have recently finished my diploma with Trauma Informed Schools to become a TISUK Practitioner, and would like to implement this approach throughout HHHS. My first degree in Psychology was 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 education provision for children, ensuring that each child 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 children is at the very heart of our school.

Improving outcomes and educational experience for children with SEMH needs is a subject I am passionate about. I believe all children are entitled to an excellent education which is 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 child is bespoke. 

We also 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 each child is greeted with a smile and compassion every day.

The staff at Highgate are highly skilled and dedicated to providing children with a safe and supportive environment in which our learners 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!

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