Bankside School is a specialist independent school designed to help our pupils flourish. We are invested in helping children grow in confidence, improve their educational outcomes, and raise their hopes for the future.
Superbly-equipped to accommodate young people with a wide range of needs, we offer specialist education and therapeutic interventions that can make a real difference for pupils aged 11-16.
We aim to provide a broad and balanced education for all pupils within a happy, stimulating and healthy environment and we want each young person to thrive. Everything we do is tailored to offering each young person the best possible educational experience. All students will be supported to learn at their own level through personalised teaching and differentiated lessons.
The school offers students access to a range of excellent educational opportunities, certified subjects and national accreditations, as well as vocational and life skills subjects to prepare pupils for life beyond school. At Bankside we work closely with families and professionals to create a nurturing, enriching environment for learning.
For us, the family-teacher relationship should be one of partnership and collaboration, combining different kinds of knowledge, experience and care. From the very first conversation about enrolment, to the final day of school, we’re there to help families, and work together on the best possible outcome for each child.
Along with our rich and varied curriculum, we focus on developing core life skills such as communication and social ability, sensory processing and emotional regulation. Every pupil develops the essential capabilities they need to be as independent as possible when they leave school.
At Bankside School we aim to ensure that our pupils:
- Are supported to access learning opportunities in a meaningful way that takes account of their learning style and their preferred interest, whilst also helping them to prepare for their next stage of learning
- Everything we do is underpinned by our Ask, Accept, Develop strategy, in which we ask pupils and their families how they best like to learn, we accept and cherish pupils individual differences, and we develop our pupils skills and knowledge in a way that is meaningful to them
- Feel confident, happy and secure in themselves, their relationships and their learning
- Have the right to feel safe and valued
- Develop and maximise their ability to communicate and interact socially
- Develop their ability to think flexibly, effectively and independently
- Successfully use strategies to help manage challenges presented by their Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Reach their potential academically and work towards accreditation appropriate to them
- Have goals and aspirations for their life beyond school
- Are equipped and confident to take their place in society; able to be proactive and productive members of society, accessing opportunities to continue learning or working
To do this we ensure that:
- Pupils placed at Bankside are all equally valued, respected and nurtured
- Staff have access to on-going training, including regular safeguarding training
- Pupil’s needs are rigorously assessed, understood and supported
- Staff at Bankside School welcome collaboration in staff teams, with parents and outside agencies and actively seek ways to promote the best outcomes for our pupils and their families
- Bankside School offers a school environment to meet the needs of autistic individuals
- Bankside School offers a holistic, broad, balanced and relevant curriculum that meets the needs of its pupils