A Proud History. A Bright Future.

Welcome to Longwill School for the Deaf.

It is a tremendous privilege to serve as the 11th Headteacher of a school with such a proud and remarkable history. Established in 1895, Longwill has supported generations of Deaf children and their families. While education has changed greatly over the years, the values at the heart of our school have remained constant: love, family, belonging and an unwavering belief in every child’s potential.

At Longwill, communication and belonging come first. Our sign-bilingual approach gives pupils access to British Sign Language and English throughout their learning and wider school life. Our dedicated specialist staff create a nurturing and ambitious environment in which children are encouraged to be curious, develop academically, socially and emotionally, and grow into confident young people who are proud of who they are.

We want our pupils to feel safe, loved and inspired, while receiving an excellent education that opens doors to future opportunities.

Families are at the heart of Longwill, and we deeply value the knowledge, trust and contribution they bring to their child’s education. By working together, we can help every child develop the confidence, independence and self-belief they need to flourish.

I am incredibly proud to lead Longwill and to continue the legacy built by the ten Headteachers who came before me. It is both an honour and a responsibility to protect the traditions that make our school special while ensuring that Longwill continues to grow, develop and provide the very best education for Deaf children.

Longwill School

Longwill School for Deaf children is a progressive specialist school for Deaf children aged 2–11. We are proud to provide a rich and ambitious education through a Sign-Bilingual approach, where British Sign Language (BSL) and English are used in parallel to ensure every child has full access to language, learning, communication and identity.

As a specialist school for Deaf children, we follow the National Curriculum while delivering highly skilled teaching that enables Deaf learners to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We are a community built on belonging, where children grow into confident, independent and proud young people.

Every child deserves a place where they feel safe, valued and nurtured; a place where they can be curious, develop independence and discover their potential. We hold high expectations for every child and provide the support, challenge and encouragement they need to achieve their very best.

Through strong partnerships with families, staff and professionals, we create a culture where every child feels a deep sense of belonging, their identity is embraced and their future is full of possibility.

Safeguarding, diversity and the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are woven throughout our curriculum and underpin all aspects of school life. We believe that every child has the right to feel protected, respected and empowered to participate fully in their education and community.

Our school values are at the heart of everything we do.

Through CIRCLE – Curiosity, Independence, Respect and Resilience, Community, Learning and Equality – we create an environment where pupils learn, communicate and care for one another with kindness and purpose.

Our purpose is simple: to equip Deaf children with the knowledge, skills and self-belief to lead happy, independent and fulfilling lives. As a Sign-Bilingual community, we provide opportunities for pupils to become fluent and confident communicators in both BSL and English whilst developing a strong sense of identity.

Together, we empower every Deaf child to feel valued, confident and capable of achieving their aspirations.