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Charterhouse Square School

What says..

This is a school that breaks the mould in many ways – children address teachers by first names (more friendly), there’s no uniform and there’s not much going on in terms of prayers or assembly, just a weekly ‘reflection time’. Academic rigour is the stand out point, and it’s delivered with a soft touch – or, as one father put it, ‘They get them ahead by stealth’ - with children working a year ahead of their peers. This is rooted in full days from nursery instead of the usual half day (where we found junk modelling in full flow with some suitably Islington-esque packaging – lots of champagne and Nespresso boxes). Nursery and reception forms are served by...

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What the school says...

Charterhouse Square School, located in the historic Barbican area and overlooking Charterhouse Square, offers a unique and nurturing educational environment for children aged 3 to 11. Our school is dedicated to fostering a culture where every pupil is celebrated and nurtured, preparing them for both academic and personal success. We pride ourselves on a holistic approach that balances academic rigour with a strong emphasis on wellbeing and development.

At the heart of our school is a genuine family atmosphere, where every pupil and staff member feels supported and valued, creating a close-knit community in which individuals thrive both academically and personally. This nurturing setting empowers our pupils to embrace challenges, push their limits and grow into confident, articulate, and self-motivated individuals. We maintain exceptional continuity among our staff, avoiding the use of supply teachers and external supervisors. This approach allows us to provide a secure environment where pupils are cared for by a familiar team throughout the day, promoting stability and belonging.

We prioritise happiness alongside academic achievement, believing that a relaxed and positive school atmosphere is key to effective learning and personal growth. Our unique approach includes addressing teachers by their first names and opting out of a school uniform policy, allowing pupils to express their individuality. This fosters an inclusive and supportive environment where pupils feel comfortable to be themselves and explore their potential.

Academically, our pupils consistently achieve results that are well above the national average at every school stage. We aim to instil a love of learning and intellectual curiosity, with a focus on developing oracy and critical thinking through activities such as debating, philosophy, and discussions on current affairs. From year 3 onwards, each pupil has access to a personal device, seamlessly integrating technology into their learning experience and equipping them with essential digital literacy skills.

Our school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, enabling pupils to explore their interests and develop new skills, from the arts and music to sports and coding, catering to a variety of passions. We also prioritise mental health and wellbeing, providing mindfulness and yoga sessions, daily check-ins, and 'worry boxes' where pupils can confidentially share their concerns. To support the wellbeing of our pupils, we have invested in resources such as designated mental health first aiders, a part-time counsellor, and staff trained in the Drawing and Talking Programme, who support pupils facing social and emotional challenges, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive.

Charterhouse Square School is committed to providing an enriching education that goes beyond academic excellence. We celebrate diversity and foster a sense of global citizenship through participation in events like Black History Month and International Women's Day. Our pupils are actively involved in shaping our school's initiatives, ensuring that their voices are heard and their experiences are enriched. With a strong emphasis on values such as courage, honesty and kindness, we prepare our pupils not only for the next stages of their education but for a lifetime of success and fulfilment.
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What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since September 2024, Tushi Gorasia. With a BEd from Homerton College, Cambridge, and a master’s from King’s College London, she brings over 20 years of educational expertise including five years as head of Hendon Prep.

Entrance

Non-selective, with entry by lottery on 8th May (apart for children with siblings already at the school). With the new expansion, the nursery now has two forms instead of one, however, so it’s less of a lottery than it was. A hefty deposit secures a place, non-refundable until your child leaves the school. Applications dropped a little post-Covid – the City was eerily quiet for a long time. Intake more international than it used to be as the school works with Cognita’s own international agents – with Russians, Americans and more.

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Special Education Needs

We aim to provide every possible opportunity to develop the full potential of every child. Children with special educational needs must be valued as individuals and should be encouraged to integrate with their peers, both socially and academically. They should have access to the whole school curriculum. At all times, consideration will be given to maintaining and enhancing the self esteem of children with special educational needs. In our school we aim to offer excellence and choice to all our children, whatever their ability or needs. We have high expectations of all our children. We aim to achieve this through the removal of barriers to learning and participation. We want all our children to feel that they are a valued part of our school community. Through appropriate curricular provision, we respect the fact that children have different educational and behavioural needs and aspirations; require different strategies for learning; acquire, assimilate and communicate information at different rates; and need a range of different teaching approaches and experiences.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Y
Aspergers Y
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Y
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia Y
Dysgraphia Y
Dyslexia Y
Dyspraxia Y
English as an additional language (EAL) Y
Genetic Y
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment Y
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Y
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Y
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Y
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Y
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment Y

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