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About Us

Welcome to Fairley House, London’s leading SEN day school for students with specific learning differences (SpLD). Split across 2 sites in central London, we are focused on transforming the learning outcomes of those finding it hard to keep up in mainstream schooling.

We were the UK’s first dyslexia school in 1982 and our magic formula and transdisciplinary approach works time after time in helping all our students realise their full potential.

20230927 Portrayed Photography IMG_5678-Edit

Dyslexia

DCD

Dyscalculia

Dysgraphia

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I have known Fairley House School for many years. It’s a unique school designed to support and develop the skills of children with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)…Life is not always easy as a young person with SpLD but in my experience, with good foundations in place, they have a chance to fulfil their potential.

Dr LINDSAY PEER MBE, Educational Psychologist

Word from the Head

If a child is struggling to keep up in a mainstream school, it can be daunting for a parent to know what to do. Children may feel stigmatised when they are withdrawn from class to receive extra help, are placed in lower sets and given easier work. There are few rewards, and little recognition. They experience a lack of confidence, low self-esteem, high anxiety, and may completely give up.

For some children, extra support after school may be sufficient, but for others, a specialist environment is highly beneficial so they can rebuild their self-esteem and confidence to truly flourish.

Our specialist teaching opens the gateway to learning, and our flexible, considered approach ensures no child is left behind. Specialist teachers and therapists work alongside one another and exchange knowledge, learning styles and information in a unique, transdisciplinary way. Our pastoral care and high staff-to-pupil ratio reduces students’ anxieties and transforms their learning outcomes.

It is our aim that most children return successfully to a mainstream environment, potentially after only a short time with us. Even more importantly, is that they go on to lead happy, independent and successful lives in whatever shape or form that success takes.

We alter the trajectory of our Fairley families’ lives by helping students to:

unlock their talents
realise their potential
gain the skills which will future proof them for the rest of their lives

My colleagues and I look forward to working with you to put your child on the path to successful and fulfilling learning.

Mr Michael C.N. Taylor

Headmaster

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The best years of my life!

Fairley House School was always like a second home to me, I’ve never felt more supported and confident as I did when I was there.

Jamie, Former Pupil

The history of London’s leading SEN day school

We were the first specialist school of our kind in the country when we were founded by speech and language therapist Daphne Hamilton-Fairley and we haven’t looked back….

1982 – Fairley House School is officially founded with a site at Prince’s Gate in Knightsbridge with 5 pupils enrolled.

1988 – The school, now 65 pupils strong, moves to Bark Place in Notting Hill where space is shared with a synagogue meaning classes finish early on Fridays!

1996 – The school moves to 30 Causton Street in Pimlico

1997 – Jackie Murray takes over the running of Fairley House from Patience Thompson

2005 – The school site is split for the first time as ex-foundling hospital 220 Lambeth Road is bought

2006 – Our teacher training centre is setup for all staff and broadens to training non-FHS teachers a year later

2010 – Burgeoning pupil numbers necessitate the purchase of 218 Lambeth Road and leasing of 36 Causton Street to boost the space and facilities on offer to the children

2013 – Our present head Michael Taylor joins Fairley House as Jackie Murray establishes our on-site Assessment Centre

2014 – FHS expand our offering to Key Stage 4 enabling our children to stay beyond Year 9 and take GCSEs across a wide variety of subjects at the end of Year 11