Fairley House School

• Location: London, England,
• Founded: 1982
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: blended.

Fairley House School is an educational center for children with learning difficulties. The school offers programs from grades 2 to 11, providing a full-time format only.

Fairley House was founded in 1982 as the UK's first school for children with dyslexia. To this day, Fairley House School continues to introduce modern teaching methods and techniques, creating a unique environment for development. In the course of the program, students are gradually prepared for admission to a regular school, which takes place after two to three years of continuous attendance at classes. All academic programs are adapted to the main ones Special Student Requirements, including GCSE preparation. Curricula can be customized to the individual characteristics of the student, creating a suitable atmosphere for him/her, conducive to the assimilation of information and gradual development at a comfortable pace for him/her.

The classrooms are named after famous people with dyslexia, such as Bill Gates and Alexander Graham Bell, thereby giving students the opportunity to believe in their success and abilities. Educators help them realize that their difficulties and differences are superpowers that they use in their lives that will be of value to them and future employers.   Restoring self-confidence in every child is a key part of the learning formula and is crucial importance for achieving successful outcomes. 

It uses a highly specialized approach to teaching, refined over many decades of experience. Teachers pay special attention to the process of transferring knowledge to ensure that each student can absorb it: explanations are clearer, the pace of work is slower, and homework is used to reinforce learning rather than additional mandatory work.  Many methods are used in the classrooms: from visual and auditory to tactile, which allows you to choose the ideal approach for each student. The curriculum takes into account possible memory problems in some students, so it takes into account the time for revision of the material.

Teachers do not use one fixed approach, but flexible methods that give the freedom to change it at any time to make progress. In particularly difficult cases, teachers do not give up, but apply rare strategies and methods that are suitable for a particular child. 

Fairley House school uniforms are modern, practical and help students feel part of a large, close-knit community. Students in all grades dress in classic blue clothing that bears the distinctive insignia of the school. Uniforms can be purchased from a partner organization or on campus sale days.

The school operates on a full-time basis and does not provide on-campus accommodation.

All students are provided with hot lunches prepared daily by qualified chefs. They are offered a main course, fresh vegetables, homemade bread and salads, including a vegetarian menu. Staff and teachers visit the dining room with the children, which creates a friendly community atmosphere.

Hobby clubs provide students with the opportunity to try new activities, develop existing skills, and network with like-minded students. Participation in them is organized both between classes and after them.  The directions of the clubs are reflected in the most popular types of extracurricular activities: sports, artistic and professional, conducted by employees and external experts at no additional cost, include dozens of specialized associations. Clubs are open daily during morning and lunch breaks, some of them only organize meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon, until 16:30. Each semester, there is a wide range of exciting societies to enroll in (the list is updated regularly).

In the senior department, there is a Volunteer Homework Club after school from Monday to Thursday, which is popular with students eager to complete any homework assignment in a calm and productive environment. They can also make time for activities such as:

• Bouldering,
• Board games,
• Creation
• Cookery.

Junior pupils are encouraged to learn about new directions by visiting the following clubs:

• Multisport: group trainings and lectures on team games, individual sports,
• Arts & Crafts,
• Programming
• Calligraphy
• Chorus
• Photography
• Doing homework.

The extracurricular life of Fairley House School students does not end with the numerous thematic associations – the school offers regular travel around London and the rest of the UK. Students will have the opportunity to see museums, art galleries, famous monuments, performances by international artists and researchers, and have fun in entertainment and nature parks. Several recent school trips have included visits to Tolmers in Hertfordshire and Bendrigg in the Lake District, Shakespeare's Globe and the Royal Air Force Museum in Edgware.

• Specializes in children with special needs,
• 95% – satisfaction of parents of students, which is 70% higher than in similar educational institutions,
• The Aptitude Assessment Team identifies areas in which the child needs support, develops a learning plan and analyses whether the student is a good fit for Fairley House School,
• According to the ISI report in 2021, the school received an "Excellent" rating for the relationship and respect between the staff of the institution and their students, small classes and modern approaches to education,
• Effective preparation for entering a regular school in two to three years,
• Tailored programmes for all grades, including GCSEs,
• Qualified teachers with extensive experience in teaching special students.

Fairley House School's campus is two learning grounds located a five-minute drive on either side of the River Thames in Westminster. The junior department is located on Lambeth Road, in a historic former college building, and seniors attend classes on Cowston Street in Pimlico.

Academic sites are located close to transport interchanges, local parks, playgrounds, sports grounds, and entertainment centers. The school's central location allows students to see the sights of all of London and access any cultural, historical sites.

Fairley House has classrooms with a variety of materials and technical infrastructure for effective education of special children, students have access to recreation areas, a dining room, a library and game rooms, rooms for events and meetings of themed clubs. The territory is completely safe, so during breaks between classes, students can go out into the fresh air, play, and walk. Children are always supervised by the staff, which ensures they are safe, comfortable, and get help at any point during the school day.

The academic year consists of three semesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-July.

During the school months, vacations and weekends are organized for students in honor of international and national holidays. Classes are held on weekdays: Monday to Friday.

An approximate list of additional costs:

• Refundable deposit (upon receipt),
• School uniforms,
• Some of the trips and activities
• Personal spending.

The registration procedure at Fairley House School includes several stages:

• Introduction: contact the staff to clarify the requirements for admission and the availability of places in the desired class, a telephone conversation with the admissions committee to describe the child's problems,
• Response about the school's willingness to provide a curriculum (within seven days),
• Introductory tour,
• Filling out the registration form and submitting the documents,
• The child undergoes a three-day informal assessment – attending classes and being in the classroom under the supervision of specialists,
• Results of the assessment with further instructions on admission,
• Official invitation to study,
• Making a deposit (within three weeks),
• Beginning of studies.

In the process of studying, students develop their academic and personal skills, getting the opportunity to continue their educational path in leading schools in the UK and other countries. In recent years, pupils have chosen the following institutions to continue their education:

• American Community School,
• American School in London,
• Clifton College Prep School,
• DLD College,
• GEMS Hampshire School,
• Grey Coat Hospital School,
• Milton Abbey School,
• Langley School for Girls,
• Thames Christian College,
• Shiplake College.

Parents of the future student must provide the child's personal documents: passport and birth certificate, health insurance, visa or residence permit. The registration form should be accompanied by medical certificates confirming the presence of the student's characteristics: dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia. Admission is based on the results of an individual assessment upon arrival at campus.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision