Alfriston School
Alfriston is a day and boarding school for girls catering for pupils with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities, between the ages of 11 and 18.
Talents
We have some amazing girls in our school. All of them have talents, all have special abilities; albeit they may be in different fields or areas that other people may not spot instantly.
Arts
Beyond the academic, many of our girls have great talents in the more creative and practical areas. So subjects such as music, art and drama, can be areas where they can thrive, they can flourish, and they can succeed.
Confidence
The goals we have for our girls at Alfriston are to provide them with the opportunity to develop the skills that they have, to show off their talents, and to be able to develop their self-confidence. So that our girls can believe in themselves, and so they know that they can do anything.
Alfriston Pool
Our award-winning architectural swimming pool opened its doors in September 2014. The pool is used for swimming lessons as part of a curriculum for Sports, as well as being a thriving space for the local community.
Performing Arts Studio
In 2020 we opened our new Performing Arts Studio. We have seen our girls dance, we have seen them sing, and watched their performance skills improve. The joy and pleasure they get from that really inspired us to do something more for them.
Message from the Head
Jinna Male writes...
Being the Head at Alfriston School is a fantastic opportunity for me to help redress the inequalities that I see in education. We have the chance to make a real difference to the future life prospects of our girls. Not only are girls less likely to have their special needs recognised and identified, but they are also more likely to be educated in an environment that is not suited to them. Here at Alfriston we can tailor our curriculum, range of experiences and our environment to maximise their learning in both social and academic development.
I am fortunate to lead a talented staff who are both driven and passionate about the difference they can make to the lives of our young people. My staff care about the individual child and we all pride ourselves in the warmth of our community in which all our pupils feel valued. Happy children are more likely to be successful and we see it as our duty to bring out our girls’ talents, to broaden their interests and to develop their personal qualities.
Every day is different at Alfriston, a true reflection of the individuals who come here and thrive at every level.
Latest from the blog
Our Goals
Environment
Physical, emotional, nurturing, equality, peer groups.
Confidence
Enjoyment, self-esteem, self-belief, friendship, individuality, participation, fulfillment.
Opportunities
Offer a range of experiences within, and beyond the curriculum.
Teamwork
Working with others is a value that runs through every aspect of school life.
Education & Skills
Achievement, learning, academic attainment, life skills, vocational skills.
Potential
happiness, independence, vocation, being the best you can be.
Testimonials
Charlotte Palumbo
Alfriston is an incredible place to work, as soon as I started I felt at home. I love the enthusiasm in which we all share in order to help create independence for our students. I feel that the opportunities in which we provide for the girls are remarkable with regards to promoting self-esteem and self-worth. My role as a teaching assistant here is incredibly rewarding and I absolutely love it, to me it is not a job but arriving at school every day to do something that I love.
Tina Leahy Teacher
The variety of activities that we cover in PE and the wide range of people I encounter on a daily basis makes my job very rewarding. I really enjoy helping students discover their physical abilities in what can be some rather challenging situations!
Jake Vandenbossche Teacher
When you see a pupil experience that moment where everything clicks, you can see in their faces how good that accomplishment has made them feel. That’s what I love about this job.
Lisa Jones Teacher
What I really love about teaching cooking is that it is needed as a ‘life skill’ and as such it is important. When the girls leave Alfriston I like to think that they have grown as individuals and they are able to make informed choices about the foods they eat and why.
Janis Kendal Teacher
I work as part of a team alongside talented and experienced colleagues. We aim to show our students that they can achieve their goals as long as they have a positive attitude and do their best.
Sharon Potts Teacher
Building relationships is such an important part of Alfriston, and vital to understanding each girl’s individual needs. We laugh, joke and behave like a (rather large) extended family, and ultimately forge friendships which hopefully will last the girls into their adult lives as well. It is an opportunity to address issues beyond the curriculum, including the girls’ social and emotional well-being.
Ros Shorrocks Teacher
The best thing about my job is the interaction with the girls who variously frustrate, challenge and amaze me. The most important part of my job is to build and maintain these relationships.
Karen Merison Teacher
I am passionate about teaching and the part that I can play in enriching the lives of our students. Having a special need should not be a barrier to life chances or happiness. I view my job as helping our girls to reach their full potential in every way possible.
Rachel Chapman Teacher
No two days are ever the same at Alfriston. There is always something new happening. Seeing the girls (and their families) develop and change over their time with us is a privilege.