About Belgrave School - Belgrave School

Our School

Belgrave School is an Independent Special Educational Needs primary and secondary school, situated in Withywood in Bristol, recognised as a specialist provide for learners with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) and associated issues.

We provide high quality education in a nurturing environment which supports young people’s mental health and wellbeing. In turn, this enables learners to grow in confidence and to achieve their academic potential.

Our learners are at the centre of everything we do and we offer extensive support to their families as well as working with a range of outside agencies.

Learners are offered bespoke support and interventions are interwoven within the curriculum and the normal school day to avoid learners being removed from classrooms, creating a sense of inclusion for all learners.

Our caring and experienced staff support learners to develop confidence and independence and our environments are designed to be low stimulus to avoid distractions.

Many learners with SpLD fall behind in mainstream education, not because they are incapable of engaging, but because the subjects have been delivered in a way that is text-based and too fast. Teaching methods heavily reliant on literacy can exclude dyslexic learners from large areas of the curriculum. At our school, the whole curriculum is taught in a dyslexia-friendly way, to minimise the negative effect of these challenges so they do not act as a barrier to effective and exciting learning.

We employ a range of SpLD friendly learning approaches. This style of teaching is multi-sensory and wide-ranging, and includes dynamic interactions, physical activities, kinaesthetic learning, employing visual images and animations, drama, audio and video clips, mind-maps, dialogue, educational software, chunking, and the power of narrative.

As learners with SpLD sometimes have problems cementing knowledge into memory, concepts are systematically revisited and ideas recapped, using a wide range of engaging study skills and techniques.

Extra time is not only given to understanding concepts, remembering knowledge and gaining skills, but also to evidence academic achievement in set tasks and internal assessments.

We deliver core subjects and provide opportunities to prepare for a wide range of qualifications accessed by the learner at the appropriate level, including GCSEs, Level 1 and 2 qualifications, including BTECs, Functional Skills and various Entry Level certificates.

We believe every experience is a learning experience and all staff maintain a non-judgemental approach to working with young people. Staff always put the children first and utilise their extensive range of expertise to nurture and address the needs of each child. A combination of educational, pastoral, social care and therapeutic experience provides a robust integrated and holistic approach for our learners.

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

Our purpose is to empower learners with specific learning differences by providing a specialised, supportive, and innovative educational environment that addresses their unique learning needs, builds their confidence, and enables them to achieve their full potential.

Mission

Our mission is to deliver personalised education for learners with specific learning differences, fostering a nurturing and inclusive atmosphere where every learner can thrive academically, develop essential life skills, and build resilience and self-esteem.

Vision

Our vision is to be a leading SEN school where learners with specific learning differences are celebrated for their strengths, equipped with the tools and strategies they need to succeed, and prepared to make meaningful contributions to society as confident, capable individuals.

Values

Together, as a team, we embrace the values of integrity, empathy and challenge to create a dynamic, supportive, respectful and enriching educational experience for all.

Louisa Skinner – Executive Principal

With over 26 years of experience in education, including 20 years dedicated to Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, I have worked extensively with children aged 5 to 16. I previously served as Headteacher of a therapeutic school, where I championed inclusive practices and supported young people with complex needs. I am passionate about education for all and firmly believe in providing fair access to learning—ensuring every young person is empowered to reach their full potential and successfully access further education and meaningful work destinations.

Community and Charity at the Heart of Our School

We are proud to be an active and caring part of our local community. Our learners regularly take part in a wide range of community and charity initiatives that promote responsibility, kindness, and environmental awareness. These include litter picking, raising money for local charities through cake sales and non-uniform days, and taking food waste to a local city farm for composting. We are committed to sustainability and recycle all materials wherever possible.

Our school also makes use of local facilities to enrich learning and wellbeing. These experiences help our learners develop a deep sense of community, empathy, and active citizenship.

As a school community, we take part in fundraising activities for both national charity events, such as Comic Relief, and local charities. We are proud to offer fundraising support Heart to BS13, a local charity that deals with food resources and sustainability in the area, as well as Lighting Up – a charity which deals with dementia through arts and crafts.

At Belgrave School, we are proud to work with a range of community partners who enrich our learners’ education and provide meaningful, real-world experiences. One of these valued partners is Hartcliffe City Farm, where our learners visit regularly to take part in activities such as composting and exploring sustainable food practices. These sessions link directly with our curriculum, including cooking lessons, and provide hands-on opportunities for learners to connect with nature, build life skills, and develop confidence outside the classroom.