More and more children find it difficult to attend school. This isn’t always down to a young person’s dislike of school. Some have very serious reasons for not attending education regularly, if at all. Bullying, trauma, mental illness, and life-long health conditions are just a few reasons a young person may disconnect from education.

It’s because of these young people that Heartwood House exists. We give children a second chance by providing an alternative to school. Yes, we have students and teachers, but that doesn’t make us your typical school.

This allows us to provide exactly what you or your child needs. By focusing our efforts on an individual’s education and wellbeing, we can offer benefits that may not be possible in regular schooling.

Our school was established in 2005 and has been delivering services in NW London for 20 years. We were formerly known as “Red Balloon North West London”. To date we have supported almost 200 students in their return to mainstream education, further education and employment. We work with many local authorities such as Harrow, Hillingdon, Hertfordshire, Brent, Ealing, Barnet, Camden, and many more.

What makes us special?

Heartwood House is built upon the four core values of respect, integrity, compassion and resilience. It’s through these values that we strive to reach all children who require our help with getting on track with their education, so their life may resume and be put onto a trajectory that leads them towards a bright future.

Here, students lead their own learning through a ‘thinking school’ approach, meaning they learn about the subjects that interest them; approachable and friendly staff at our school are with them every step of the way to provide support, stability and direction.

This unique blend of helping educate children and nurturing their personal development keeps learning at the forefront of importance, as well as wellbeing, which we believe to be just as vital as education. Learning that is channelled through self-awareness, reflective thinking, and thought processes is priceless and is what makes us and, most importantly, our students so special.

What can be achieved?

It’s difficult to translate what exactly students can achieve by spending time with us. Not because possibilities are in short supply, but because they are endless.

By establishing a learning approach that is not led by curriculum and firmly directed by an individual, the limits are endless, the lessons learned are lifelong, and a bright future is within reach as opposed to being virtually non-existent.