Six months after opening in a national lockdown, Westward House School in St Clears is expanding its provision by opening a sister school, Eastward House, in Dinas Powys.
Subject to registration by Welsh Government the school will open at its temporary site in Hebron Hall this September. It will offer a refreshing new educational model that is already proving a hit with parents of pupils at Westward House School.
“Opening a new school during a pandemic and in the midst of a national lockdown some would say was not the best business move but much to the delight of families from Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion and as far afield as Cardiff, Westward House stood firm and opened its doors in February 2021,” says founder Harriet Harrison, who also runs Castle School in Haverfordwest.
“Five months down the line the school is going from strength to strength to such an extent that eighteen months ahead of schedule a sister school is opening in The Vale of Glamorgan.”
The schools offer a completely new approach to teaching and learning together with a different look to the shape of the school week.
“This has brought joy to many pupils who, for many reasons have either been out of mainstream schools or extremely unhappy with the provision,” says Harriet.
“With Individual learning programmes taking the place of traditional classroom teaching, pupils are able to work at their own pace with flexibility for fast tracking, over learning, blended learning and reduced weekly attendance.”
Some families have travelled from Cardiff and The Vale to access this different style of school and this persuaded Harriet to open ahead of schedule further East.
“Although always our intention to open an Eastward House School, I never imagined it would happen quite so soon,” she says. “There are just so many families desperate to get their children back learning and so many pupils who want to learn but just can’t access mainstream provision. We already have healthy numbers waiting to join Eastward House School and are working throughout the holidays to accommodate families who want to join us for a September start in either St Clears or The Vale of Glamorgan.”
For further information go to www.westwardhouse.co.uk or call 01994 220050.
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