Our philosophy is that every child should be treated as the unique individual they are, and we are always working to ensure we can meet the needs of all the young people who attend Westbourne.
We believe that our learners should leave with more than just qualifications. They should be well-rounded, responsible citizens that can positively contribute to their communities.
Many learners consider school to be one of their only safe, happy and consistent experiences and our determination is to provide an environment where all children and young people flourish.
We strive to ensure that all learners are presented with the best possible opportunities to pursue their passions, develop the skills required to understand themselves and others, regulate their emotions and successfully access further education or employment.
Our core principals:
- Embed everything we do from the view of Unconditional Positive Regard for our learners (TIP framework), within our AAD (Ask, Accept, Develop) and Nurture
- Maintain a consistent focus on the overall purposes of the curriculum – we must all have a focus on why we do what we do and not just how.
- Focus on the core skills of Reading, Vocabulary, Numeracy and Oracy.
- Maintain a focus on the research and science behind what we are offering (embrace “learn what, learn how”)
- Challenge all learners by encouraging them to recognise the importance of sustained effort in meeting expectations that are high but achievable for them.
- Create authentic contexts for learning that foster curiosity and engagement
- Support social and emotional development and positive relationships.
Krissy Higginson, Headteacher.
Krissy joined the team as Headteacher in September 2024, following her role as Principal of a Pupil Referral Unit for permanently excluded students. With over 20 years of experience in education, she has contributed to both mainstream and special educational needs (SEN) settings, focusing on school improvement and enhancing student outcomes. Krissy is dedicated to breaking down barriers to learning, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. She is particularly passionate about trauma-informed practices and creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive.
Sian Bullen, Deputy Headteacher; Head of Pastoral and Behaviour.
Sian has worked in education for over 15 years with the last 12 years being in schools supporting pupils with SEN. Her previous roles have included Curriculum leader and Deputy Head teacher, where Sian has been able to develop her knowledge and understanding of working with pupils with SEN to support them to achieve their full potential and make outstanding progress across all aspects of their education.
Stacey Edwards, Head of SEND, Inclusion and SENCo.
Stacey has worked in education for many years supporting learners with SEN and SEMH. Her previous roles have included Deputy Head teacher, DSL and Curriculum lead. She has worked with many outside agencies to build an amazing knowledge and network for our learners to access Education.
Richard Garbutt, Assistant Headteacher; Head of Quality of Education.
Richard is very experienced in Education. He has taken several leading roles within Schools through out his time as a teacher. At Westbourne he became Head of the English department rejuvenating the curriculum and building foundations to become our lead on the curriculum being taught to our learners.
Zoe Ward, Assistant Head (Bridge).
Zoe joined the school as intervention lead before becoming SENCo in January 2023 . She is passionate about ensuring all children have access to an outstanding education which meets their needs and enables them to succeed and thrive.
Emily Brassington, Assistant Headteacher; Head of PD & Careers.
Gary Hatton, Assistant Headteacher; Head of Gateway.
Gary has been teaching in Education for over 25 years. He has been in several roles within the pastoral departments of different schools, including Head of Year, Key stage manager and SLT. He joined us teaching Science where he became Head of Department, developing an adaptive curriculum for our learners. He joined the Senior Leadership Team in 2023 with a firm commitment to ‘Our Promise’ and every child matters.