In November last year the Royal Free Hospital Children's School (RFHCS) was awarded the Artsmark, Arts Council England’s flagship programme for recognising art in schools. The award highlighted the excellent work done by the school, which provides education for children who are in-patients at the hospital or receiving support from medical or mental health services.

Located on the 6th floor of the Royal Free Hospital, the RFHCS is a community special school for pupils aged five to 16, funded by Camden Education. It offers all pupils individually focussed one-to-one or small group teaching, ensuring each child makes progress according to their own needs. The school provides pupils with a place to learn where there is emphasis on care, safety, health and an enjoyment of education.

The school has been with us for 40 years and has taught thousands of children in that time. Professionals including consultant doctors, mental health professionals, physiotherapists, speech therapists and other agencies work together with the children, and can see up to 20 children a day.

The school has received fantastic feedback from parents. One mother of an 11-year-old pupil said: “He wishes he had come to RFHCS sooner. I know he will be sad to leave. It is certainly the first time that I think he has had a fighting chance of working towards anything like a mainstream life. Many thanks, I’m very grateful.”

Find out more information about the school.

Images: Students at the school undertook a textiles project, Art Makes People Powerful, with artist Melodie Holiday from Shape Arts.