Select Page
CAMHS Campus School at Springfield

Our four classrooms that form CAMHS Campus School based at Springfield Hospital provide education for young people who are inpatients or day patients on the adolescent wards. These wards include:

Wisteria ward

Wisteria ward is a 12 bed unit for young people between the ages of 11 and 18 with severe eating disorders and weight loss related to mental health problems.

Aquarius Ward

Aquarius Ward is a 12 bed inpatient service for young people aged 12-18 who have a serious mental illness e.g. psychosis, bipolar affective disorder, depression, severe anxiety disorders, OCD emerging personality disorder.

Corner House

Corner House is a seven-bed national specialist assessment and treatment unit for Deaf children and adolescents up to their 18th birthday, with severe complex emotional and psychological problems.

Our students may only be with us for a handful of lessons if it is a short admission, or up to a year if they require longer term hospital treatment. Our members of staff are trained in different areas of mental health and have experience in adapting the lessons and classroom to help cater for different learning and mental health needs.

Teaching staff liaise daily with the medical staff on the wards and are always made aware of the circumstances of admission, and of any relevant issues related to behaviour or mental health that may affect the young person in the classroom. When young people are not well enough to access the group taught lessons or are unable to cope with a classroom environment one of our teaching staff or higher level teaching assistants will provide some 1-1 lessons with the student on the ward. Adapted approaches may be used such as a reduced school timetable initially to help young people get used to the classroom. Individualised learning plans are regularly created in order to adapt approaches, curriculum content and timetables to suit student’s needs. Staff ensure the environment is focused while facilitating a gentle approach as needed including allowance for breaks and timeouts if the student is feeling anxious.

We provide guidance, support and taught lessons for students in all Key Stages, including those preparing for KS4 exams. We liaise closely with students’ home schools and ensure that the pupils are kept up to date with the work they would be covering.  Furthermore, we play an important part in the gradual reintegration of pupils back into their schools when they are ready.

The CAMHS Campus has a rich curriculum offer with a range of academic and vocational subjects. For those studying for GCSEs or other external accreditation, we have highly experienced subject specialist teachers able to deliver a full curriculum range up to A’Level. We also timetable Guided Independent Study sessions to allow our students to catch up on any coursework or homework set by their home school. For those who are currently out of education, we provide internal and external guidance on the next steps the young people might want to take. This includes investigating new colleges and courses, the Prince’s Trust, volunteer work and work experience.

‘Every day my son looks forward to going to school – to get away from his room, and all the poking and prodding from doctors is such a relief. He is treated like a school boy, rather than a patient, and I think this has as much healing properties as medicine! Due to his illness, my son has missed about a month of schooling, but hopefully will have caught up because of the hospital school.’

(Parent, 2018)

‘Wow, where to begin. I wanted to write to you to demonstrate how much of a positive impact you have had on me……you have restored my faith in teachers everywhere...the CAMHS Campus School was definitely the highlight of Springfield for me as is the case for so many others. Rest assured if I ever get involved in the murky world of politics your funding will be quadrupled, ring-fenced and seared forever.’
‘We are so grateful and thankful for the brilliant staff at the St. George’s Hospital School. We have spent quite a lot of time there over the past 18 months, they have made learning such fun – memorable science experiments and story writing, the best time making posters and adverts and treats for the school cafe. The staff are cheerful, calm, gentle and above all fun. Thank you to the great team.’
‘We were so grateful to the teaching team. They have been absolutely fantastic. My daughter had surgery on Monday and was quiet and withdrawn. This has been instrumental in her recovery and also kept her mind on education whilst she’s been sick.’
‘Everyday my son looks forward to going to school – to get away from his room, and all the poking and prodding from doctors is such a relief. He is treated like a school boy, rather than a patient, and I think this has as much healing properties as medicine! Due to his illness, my son has missed about a month of schooling, but hopefully will have caught up because of the hospital school.’
‘We are so grateful and happy for the care and support – teachers are so helpful and very kind, we love you all for your hard work, keep it up. Thanks so much.’
‘Thank you for the range of learning opportunities you provided my son in hospital for the week for the week he was on the neuro ward. He found the activities very engaging and accessible. He thoroughly enjoys maths and looked forward to the activities you provided for this – he is especially looking forward to the spreadsheet analysis this afternoon. he enjoys music and was surprised to have the opportunity to learn about and play different instruments. Thanks again for all your help.’
​
‘We are so grateful that there is a school/classroom to attend. Josie really needs something to focus on when he’s in hospital, he looks forward to getting out of his room and working/studying English, Maths and other interesting topics he can learn about. It has really made a difference to his mood during the hospital stays, having been admitted so many times throughout the past 7 months. Furthermore, it helps him keep on top of his schooling.’
‘Thank you for helping me for the past 10 months. You have helped me to keep as motivated and hopeful for my future as I could have been. I cant wit to start college and maybe become a paramedic. I’ll always remember this school and everyone in it’
‘The service aims to enable pupils with long-term illnesses, mental health issues or who are pregnant to remain in education…... You and your staff ensure that these aims are fully met. Most pupils have missed long periods of learning due to illness. They make remarkable progress during their short time in the school.
Pupils told us that, without the school, they would not be able to engage fully in learning or sit any examinations. Parents value the high-quality teaching provided alongside the excellent care and support given to each individual pupil.’

Ofsted, 2018

Education at HHTS

Student Wellbeing

Staff Wellbeing

Making a Referral

Keeping Yourself Safe