November and December have been two months of visits!

Early in November, we welcomed 33 Chinese students to the College for a week with their teachers. The students came from the Qingdao Academy in the Shandong Province. They spent 5 days being immersed in life in a British school, attending lessons and enjoying many varied activities after school. The Crookhorn mentors did a fantastic job, and many friendships were made during the week. What I want to share is a few of the thoughts and reflections of the Chinese students recorded in their daily diaries.

I found these reflections of the Chinese students fascinating and they  made me really think about the learning ethos we work hard to achieve here and the fact that we strive hard for all students to feel included in education.

On 27th November, we were honoured to welcome Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards, to Crookhorn College. The Minister was keen to see what inclusion looks like in a mainstream setting and was recommended to visit us by a parent who is highly active in SEND forums.

The news of the visit, with only 24 hours’ notice, initially caused a degree of panic—but it also prompted more deep reflection on what inclusion truly means to us at Crookhorn, which I have summarised in the words below:

“At Crookhorn we believe that inclusion begins with a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is shaped by many interconnected factors that help students feel accepted, valued, and safe, especially for children who are neurodiverse or face significant barriers to learning.

For decades, education in this country has been underpinned by a meritocratic philosophy: the belief that anyone can succeed if they simply try hard enough. This assumes all children start from a position of equality. Having worked my entire professional life in communities where disadvantage is a significant factor, I can say with certainty that this is not the case. Children do not begin their educational journey on an equal footing. Yet, the ambition, from government to the classroom, is that all children leave education with equal prospects for their future.

To achieve this ambition, we must move beyond meritocracy. A truly inclusive school goes further than slogans and interventions. It makes courageous decisions that create genuine value and acceptance, ensuring every child, from the highest achiever to the most challenged, feels safe and supported in their development. This engagement enables long-term success, allowing students to exceed academic expectations because they remain connected to education and the support that moves them forward.

So, at the heart of everything we do at Crookhorn is the belief that every child deserves to feel accepted, valued, and safe. This is not a slogan; it is the foundation of our practice. From our inclusive curriculum design to our trauma-informed approach, from the physical environment we create to the relationships we nurture with students and parents, every decision is guided by this principle.

When students feel accepted for who they are, valued for their contributions, and safe to express themselves, they remain engaged in learning. Engagement leads to progress, and progress opens doors to achievement, regardless of starting point or barrier.@

During the visit, the Minister spoke to many students and explored the different strands of inclusion operating within the College. They were able to witness first hand the strength of our diverse community. The students were their naturally brilliant selves, enthusiastic, engaged and exemplifying excellent learning habits.  Both the Minister and the DfE representative described the visit as inspiring, noting that it would inform ongoing national discussions about SEND and inclusion reforms, which will be detailed in the Government’s forthcoming White Paper in early 2026.

The following day, we welcomed Gary Westbrook, Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council, who was also keen to see how inclusion can work effectively within Hampshire.

Having two high-profile visits in quick succession, both focused on inclusion, was a fantastic opportunity to showcase what inclusion looks like at Crookhorn and to discuss what still needs to be addressed nationally to ensure mainstream schools receive the right level of support.

Our journey here is naturally ongoing, but our commitment is unwavering: to build a school where belonging is not conditional, but guaranteed, and we are proud of all our students who are part of this journey with us, and who help us every day to understand what works and what doesn’t!

I wish you all a merry Christmas