How Westfield Helps Every Child Become Their Best
This oasis in Gosforth makes a lasting impression
She has supported schools through improvement, worked alongside educational leaders and, in her role as a governor, helped oversee the recent merger between Westfield School and Newcastle's Royal Grammar School. Yet despite all that experience, her first visit to Westfield left a lasting impression.
‘As soon as we walked through the gates, it felt like discovering an oasis in the middle of Gosforth,’ she recalls. ‘I remember thinking, “Why didn't I know this was here?”’
Tucked away in the streets of Gosforth, Westfield offers something increasingly rare. Surrounded by trees and extensive grounds, with a large playing field and thriving Forest School provision, it provides an environment that feels a world away from the busy pace of everyday life.
For Sally, however, it is not just the setting that makes Westfield special. ‘What really stood out to me was the sense of joy,’ she says. ‘The children are happy, confident learners who genuinely love being part of the school. Whenever I visit a school, I always look at the feeling it creates because that tells you everything. If children are happy, they are going to learn.’
That feeling of belonging sits at the heart of the Westfield experience. ‘Schools are about hearts and minds,’ Sally explains. ‘At Westfield, every child is treated as an individual. There is a wonderful sense of community where children, staff and families work together. You can feel how passionate families are about the school, and that says a great deal.
Alongside everything that makes Westfield distinctive, Sally is enthusiastic about the opportunities created through its partnership with RGS Newcastle. Having been closely involved in the merger, she sees it as a natural collaboration between two highly respected schools, each with its own character, strengths and educational offer.
‘For us, it has always been about providing choice for families,’ she says. ‘Every child is different and not every school is right for every child. Children thrive when they are in an environment where they feel happy, confident and able to learn. This partnership helps secure a strong future and ensures that families continue to have access to different educational options.’
Importantly, she sees the partnership as strengthening what already makes Westfield so valued by families. ‘The personal approach, the community spirit and the focus on every individual child are all hugely valued and will continue to define the school.’
At the heart of that approach is a belief that education can be shaped around the child. ‘What I've been particularly impressed by is how personalised learning is at Westfield,’ says Sally. ‘The teaching is highly adaptive and responsive to each child. We're not talking about creating an environment where every child is striving to be the best. We're talking about helping every child become their best.’
For Sally, that distinction is fundamental. Education should never be about asking children to fit a system. Instead, it should recognise individual strengths, provide support where needed and help every pupil fulfil their potential.
A key part of this approach is Westfield's smaller class sizes and positive staff-to-pupil ratios. Because teachers know their pupils exceptionally well, they can provide the encouragement, challenge and individual attention that helps children thrive both academically and personally.
‘Success looks different for every child,’ says Sally. ‘What Westfield does exceptionally well is ensure pupils are known as individuals and supported to achieve what they are capable of.’
She believes this can be transformative for children who may not have found the right fit elsewhere. When pupils feel understood, valued and listened to, they often develop greater confidence in themselves and their abilities. ‘Children thrive when they have a voice,’ she says. ‘At Westfield, relationships between staff, pupils and families are incredibly strong. Because children are so well known, the school can adapt and respond to ensure they receive the very best support for them as individuals.’
Perhaps the clearest illustration of Westfield's impact comes from the pupils themselves. Recalling a recent prize-giving event, Sally remembers being struck by the confidence of children who had previously found social interaction challenging.
‘Every child came forward, made eye contact and shook hands,’ she says. ‘For some young people, those skills don't come naturally. Seeing their confidence grow and watching them overcome personal challenges was incredibly impressive.’
For families considering their next educational step, Sally has one simple piece of advice: visit.
‘What really matters is how a school makes children feel. When you walk into Westfield, you experience that sense of community, confidence and belonging. That's why attending an Open Day is so important.’
And for those who have yet to discover Westfield?
‘It really is an oasis in Gosforth,’ she says. ‘Come and see it for yourself.’
