Newhaven Pupil Referral Unit is a state-maintained alternative provision serving 191 mixed-gender students aged 11 to 19 in Greenwich, south-east London. The school operates across four distinct sites: the main Newhaven Gardens campus in Eltham for students who have been or are at risk of permanent exclusion, NEST for those with illness or mental health barriers to mainstream education, King's Park for students with autism spectrum disorder and additional mental health needs, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital for ward-based teaching. Rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection (April 2025), with Outstanding for personal development, Newhaven has built a reputation as a trauma-informed community underpinned by the values Trust, Restore, Achieve. Led by headteacher Jon Kelly since 2019, the school employs clinical psychology, speech and language therapy, and music therapy alongside a therapeutic curriculum. Newhaven also offers post-16 provision including sixth form pathways and supported internships at its King's Park site.
Newhaven's mission centres on enabling students to "gain the skills, attributes and experiences that prepare them for genuine opportunities in life." The school recognises that many of its young people have experienced trauma and breakdowns in trust with adults and the education system. In response, it has adopted a trauma, neurodivergence and equity-informed approach across all four sites, prioritising psychological safety, stress reduction, and the rebuilding of relationships. The core values—Trust, Restore, Achieve—shape every aspect of school life, from behaviour policy to curriculum design.
Jon Kelly became headteacher in September 2019, bringing 28 years of teaching experience, including roles as a geography teacher, head of department, SENCO, and assistant head in mainstream schools before joining Newhaven in 2013. He initially served as deputy head, leading on NEST and then establishing the King's Park campus. Under his leadership, the school has strengthened its multi-site model and embedded a culture of equity, recognising that different students require different forms of support to succeed.
The atmosphere at Newhaven is one of individualised care and high expectations. Staff work to celebrate diversity, see each student as a whole person, and rebuild enthusiasm for learning. Recent Ofsted parent feedback indicates strong satisfaction: 60% of parents strongly agreed and 37% agreed that their child is happy at the school, while 83% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. The school's trauma-informed accreditation and focus on student voice underpin a culture of listening, psychological thinking, and restorative practice when things go wrong.
Newhaven does not publish traditional performance metrics such as Attainment 8 or Progress 8 scores, reflecting its role as a pupil referral unit where students often arrive with significant educational gaps and complex needs. The school's academic success is measured instead by its ability to re-engage learners, rebuild their confidence, and prepare them for appropriate next steps. Inspectors in November 2019 found that staff work diligently to rebuild pupils' interest in learning, with most students wanting to succeed. However, the report also noted that planning in some subjects did not always connect sufficiently to students' prior knowledge and experiences, causing some to lose focus.
The Key Stage 3 curriculum includes English, maths, science, humanities, art, design and technology, drama, and Forest School sessions in Oxleas Wood. At Key Stage 4, students study core subjects alongside option choices currently including art, food, performing arts, and PE. Students also have the opportunity to study one day per week at a local sixth form college, supported by Newhaven staff, in areas such as building services, music technology, catering, and art. The sixth form provision at King's Park offers a broad curriculum, including supported internships and college links, rated Good by Ofsted in April 2025.
Support for students with special educational needs and disabilities is comprehensive. The school manages the full range of additional needs including literacy and numeracy difficulties, working memory and processing challenges, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and mental health conditions. Newhaven employs a clinical psychologist, educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, and school nurse across its sites. King's Park also uses music therapy. Staff receive regular training on managing diverse needs both inside and outside the classroom.
Newhaven's provision is specifically designed for vulnerable learners with complex needs who have not thrived in mainstream settings. The school supports students with a wide range of conditions including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, trauma-related mental health needs, and learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia. Physical and sensory needs are also accommodated where appropriate. The King's Park site is purpose-built for students with autism and co-occurring mental health conditions, offering a specialist environment with tailored routines and therapeutic support.
The school's SEND approach is embedded in its trauma-informed ethos. Interventions are designed around individual needs, with access to clinical and educational psychology, speech and language therapy, and music therapy. Small group sizes and high staff-to-pupil ratios enable personalised learning plans and close monitoring. The NEST provision specifically supports students whose illness or mental health creates a barrier to mainstream attendance, offering flexible, responsive teaching that adapts to their medical and psychological needs.
Newhaven's leadership prioritises staff training in neurodivergence, mental health, and trauma-informed practice, ensuring all adults can support students effectively. The school's behaviour and relationships policy is underpinned by restorative approaches, helping students develop self-regulation and conflict-resolution skills. Careers guidance and personal development programmes are tailored to each student's needs and aspirations, preparing them for post-16 pathways including further education, employment, and training.
Newhaven's multi-site structure means that facilities and the student experience vary by location. The main Newhaven Gardens site in Eltham provides teaching spaces, specialist rooms, and outdoor areas. King's Park, on Eltham Palace Road, offers a broader campus with facilities for sixth form students, supported internships, and specialist provision for students with autism. NEST is designed for medical and mental health support, with flexible learning environments. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital site provides ward-based teaching for students who are inpatients.
A standout feature across sites is the Forest School programme, which takes Key Stage 3 students to Oxleas Wood, a historic woodland in Royal Greenwich. In all weathers, students roam the woods, build shelters and dens, climb trees, swing on ropes, play team games, and learn skills such as map-making, pathfinding, and environmental respect. The programme offers positive mental and physical health benefits, fostering socialisation, mindfulness, and the ability to measure and manage risk safely.
The curriculum is enriched by work experience, collaborations with outside companies, school trips to galleries, guest speakers, and creative projects. Sports days and other social events provide opportunities for students to engage with peers in structured, supportive environments. The sixth form provision at King's Park includes college links and supported internships, helping older students build vocational skills and independence.
Newhaven's emphasis on student voice means young people are actively involved in shaping school life. Former students often return as role models, and leadership tracks destinations closely to ensure every leaver secures an appropriate next step. Inspectors in 2019 noted that staff care about students' wellbeing, and the school's access to clinical psychology support extends to both students and staff.
Newhaven Pupil Referral Unit does not operate a typical admissions process. Students are referred by the Royal Borough of Greenwich local authority, usually following permanent exclusion from a mainstream school or when mainstream provision is deemed unsuitable due to medical, mental health, or behavioural needs. Parents and carers do not apply directly; instead, the local authority, in consultation with schools, families, and other agencies, determines whether Newhaven is the appropriate placement.
Each of the four sites serves a different cohort. The main Newhaven Gardens site accepts students who have been or are at risk of permanent exclusion. NEST supports students whose illness or mental health prevents mainstream attendance. King's Park is reserved for students with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and additional mental health concerns. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital provision serves inpatients requiring continuing education. Admissions to each site depend on individual need and available capacity.
There is no catchment area in the traditional sense. Students come from across Greenwich, and the school works closely with the local authority to ensure placements are matched to individual circumstances. Because referrals are managed centrally, families should contact the Royal Borough of Greenwich SEND team or their child's current school for guidance on the referral process. The school's website and the local authority directory provide contact details for initial inquiries.
Newhaven's post-16 provision, including sixth form and supported internships at King's Park, also operates on a referral basis. Students transitioning from Key Stage 4 within Newhaven or from other settings may be considered for post-16 places based on their needs and the suitability of the programmes on offer. Careers guidance and transition planning begin well before Year 11 to ensure appropriate pathways are identified and secured.
Newhaven Pupil Referral Unit offers a vital, specialist provision for some of Greenwich's most vulnerable young people. Its trauma-informed approach, multi-site structure, and commitment to equity set it apart as a school designed to meet complex needs with compassion and expertise. The values of Trust, Restore, Achieve are not mere slogans but lived principles, reflected in the therapeutic curriculum, the quality of pastoral care, and the wraparound support from clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, and dedicated teaching staff.
The school's strengths are clear: Outstanding personal development, Good ratings across all other Ofsted categories in the most recent inspection, strong parental confidence in student safety and happiness, and a rich offer of therapeutic interventions and enrichment activities such as Forest School. Jon Kelly's leadership has consolidated the school's ethos and expanded its capacity to serve diverse learners across four distinct sites. For students who have experienced exclusion, trauma, or mental health crises, Newhaven provides a second chance and a supportive community.
Challenges remain. The 2019 Ofsted report highlighted that too many students left without securing employment, further education, or training, though the school has since strengthened its tracking and careers provision. Curriculum planning needs to consistently connect learning to students' prior knowledge to maintain engagement. Newhaven is not a mainstream school and should not be judged by mainstream metrics; its success lies in its ability to re-engage the disengaged, rebuild trust, and prepare students for genuine opportunities in life.
For families whose children have not succeeded in mainstream settings, Newhaven offers expertise, flexibility, and a trauma-informed culture that prioritises individual needs. It is not a school you apply to directly, but for those referred by the local authority, it represents a thoughtful, well-resourced alternative that takes seriously the responsibility of educating vulnerable learners.
Newhaven is rated Good by Ofsted, with Outstanding for personal development. It is a specialist provision for students with complex needs who have not thrived in mainstream schools. The school's trauma-informed approach, multi-site structure, and comprehensive therapeutic support make it a strong choice for vulnerable learners referred by the local authority. Parent feedback indicates high satisfaction with safety and happiness.
You cannot apply directly. Newhaven operates on a referral basis through the Royal Borough of Greenwich local authority. Students are typically referred following permanent exclusion or when mainstream provision is deemed unsuitable due to medical, mental health, or behavioural needs. Contact the Greenwich SEND team or your child's current school to discuss referral.
Newhaven serves students aged 11 to 19. The main Newhaven Gardens site and NEST cater primarily to Key Stage 3 and 4 students, while King's Park offers sixth form provision and supported internships for post-16 learners.
Yes, Newhaven operates a sixth form at its King's Park site, rated Good by Ofsted. The provision includes A-level pathways, vocational courses, supported internships, and college links. Post-16 students benefit from tailored careers guidance and a curriculum designed to prepare them for further education, employment, or training.
Newhaven employs a clinical psychologist, educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, and school nurse. King's Park also offers music therapy. The school supports autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, trauma-related mental health needs, and learning difficulties. Staff receive regular training in trauma-informed practice and neurodivergence.
The Forest School programme takes Key Stage 3 students to Oxleas Wood in all weathers. Activities include tree climbing, rope swinging, shelter building, map-making, and team games. The programme promotes mental and physical health, socialisation, mindfulness, and risk management in a natural environment.
Jon Kelly has been headteacher since September 2019. He has 28 years of teaching experience, including roles in mainstream schools as a geography teacher, head of department, SENCO, and assistant head. He joined Newhaven in 2013 as deputy head, leading on NEST and establishing the King's Park campus.
Newhaven operates four sites: the main Newhaven Gardens campus in Eltham (SE9 6HR), King's Park on Eltham Palace Road (SE9 5LX) for students with autism and sixth form provision, NEST for students with illness or mental health barriers, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital for ward-based teaching.
Newhaven's core values are Trust, Restore, Achieve. These underpin the school's trauma-informed, equity-driven approach and shape its curriculum, behaviour policy, and relationships with students and families.
Students at Key Stage 4 study core subjects including English, maths, and science, alongside options such as art, food, performing arts, and PE. Students can also access courses at a local sixth form college one day per week in areas such as building services, music technology, catering, and art. The sixth form at King's Park offers A-levels, vocational qualifications, and supported internships.
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