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  • BBC Sounds Interview

    Published 01/02/24
    Listen to the whole BBC SOUNDS radio piece here
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  • BBC News Article

    Published 30/01/24

    Anna O'Neill & Lauren Stanley

    BBC News, London 30th January 2024

    The number of pupils who refuse to go to school is growing as anxiety around school attendance increases.

    At Konstam House, the Royal Free Hospital Children's School's new unit for pupils unable or unwilling to attend school, head teacher Alex Yates says he prefers the term "emotionally based school avoidance" - or EBSA - rather than "school refusal", as it is sometimes known.

    "The children are trying to solve a problem, and the problem is that they can't manage in a mainstream setting," he said.

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  • ‘Less daunting’: inside the new education unit in north London supporting school refusers

    Published 08/01/24

    The Royal Free Hospital Children’s School is running programmes at the renovated Konstam Centre in Camden

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  • Actress officially opens Royal Free Hospital School's new site at historic Konstam building

    Published 30/10/23

    The Royal Free Hospital Children's School has officially opened a new site at the historic Konstam building to support more young people who are struggling to attend mainstream school.

    On Friday (20 October), the new site in Highgate was officially opened by the school’s former higher level teaching assistant turned actress Melissa Johns, alongside staff, students, parents and carers, teachers, governors and local councillors.

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  • EDIS Conference June 27 2023

    Published 20/03/23

    Please enter an introduction for your news story here.

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  • RF Charity Magazine Article

    Published 14/10/22

    See the full article on fantastic Ann and the team in this month's Royal Free charity magazine attached below. 

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  • Free ACAMH Talk on 'LinkEd Up'

    Published 14/10/22

    In comparison to previously favoured terms such as ‘school refuser’, EBSA highlights the impact of unmet emotional needs over school non-attendance which then informs the intervention offered for students struggling to attend school. Supporting the psychological needs of young people with attendance difficulties is therefore crucial to create change. The LinkEdUp programme, designed and delivered by the Royal Free Hospital School and Camden’s Educational Psychology Service, aims to re-engage young people with school by supporting students, families and school staff to implement a phased return to school. This talk will outline the nature of the initial 2 week re-engagement programme and follow up support offered to schools and families over two terms. Early evaluation data suggests that the LinkEdUp programme has had a positive impact on student attendance and engagement with learning: further impact data will also be discussed.

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  • ArtsMark Platinum Award

    Published 16/03/22

    We are delighted to have been honoured with Artsmark Platinum Award in March 2022. Despite the inevitable challenges which have affected schools throughout the pandemic, we strive to maintain a high standard in all areas of our creative provision which filters across our whole school setting and into the wider community.

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  • 24/7 Support

    Published 03/12/21

    The last 18 months have been particularly hard for young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Young people and their families in need of urgent help with their mental health can get free 24/7 support from trained NHS professionals by telephone.


    The NHS has set up free telephone lines across London for young people in distress, open all day, every day, and staffed by trained mental health professionals. They can provide immediate support, or refer people to other sources of help if needed.

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  • Top of the class!

    Published 02/12/19

    Top of the class! OFSTED say hospital school provides an “exceptional” education for its pupils

    29 November 2019

    The Royal Free Hospital Children’s School (RFHCS) has received a faultless inspection from Ofsted - taking it from a ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ rating.

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  • OFSTED Outstanding

    Published 14/11/19

    RFHCS has been judged to be outstanding following our Section 5 inspection under the new OFSTED framework on Oct 9th and 10th 2019. This is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud of all pupils, staff, governors and all our colleagues in the NHS. Final report is attached below.   

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