Testimonials

It is actually very hard to find the words to express how grateful our family is to have found Canbury. The way our daughter has developed from Year 7, to today (going back after summer holidays to the top of the school), Year 13, is in no small part down to the continuous effort, commitment, patience, belief and care of every single staff member at Canbury. All the teaching staff and the support staff are a really special bunch of human beings; they make the place feel like one big family and go above and beyond to bring out the best in each student.

Year 13 Parent, September 2023

The students are a wonderful group and the friendships that form across year groups is something so enriching and unusual to find in a secondary school. Our daughter is still good friends with the individual in the year above, who looked after her (and gave her a birthday doughnut!) on her very first ’taster morning’.

Year 13 Parent, September 2023

Canbury is not a ’normal’ secondary school. It is an exceptional secondary school. Here, individuals with all sorts of challenges and quirks, are allowed to be themselves, feel accepted, welcomed and included. The students just seem to understand each other and appreciate that, for whatever reason, things may be a bit more challenging for them than for some others. Canbury is a place where they can be happy and thrive. The smile on my daughter’s face this morning - first day of a new school year - and the palpable excitement in the car on the way there, just tells me we are so, so lucky to have found Canbury and that she is in the right place for her.

Year 13 Parent, September 2023

My son started Canbury School in September 2022 after being unable to settle at a large mainstream secondary school. He was very withdrawn from all aspects of school life but from the very first day he stepped into Canbury his sparkle returned. He has thrown himself into so much more than we could ever have imagined. He made friends and the other children in his class were so welcoming. After being at Canbury for one year he is ready to begin his GCSEs and we are sure he will succeed.

Year 10 Parent, September 2023

My son is starting his third year at Canbury and the transformation he has gone through under their care during this time has been nothing short of miraculous. He has gone from an extremely anxious school refuser to a full-time student who can now manage his anxiety such that he can enjoy learning and making friends. My son has had miserable experiences at his previous school, but such has been the warmth and nurture of Canbury that he now views school positively. Both he and I feel his future is brimming with possibilities- thanks to Canbury.

Year 9 Parent, September 2023

When our son started in year 7, he was able but immature and was still overcoming obstacles in terms of communication and learning. Canbury gave him a context within which he could learn and grow in a supportive environment. He developed many strong bonds to the teachers and support staff as well as some invaluable friendships with other students. Over time he identified more and more with Canbury and their core values and has wanted to take part in lots of events that he would have not taken part in in primary school. He enjoyed finding a purpose beyond studying at school and becoming part of the fabric and the sense of belonging to a school to that extent has in return boosted his confidence. With school's help, he studied hard and passed all his GCSEs. Words cannot describe how proud we are of him and how much we know it has had to do with finding the right school... simultaneously, I feel I would need to write a whole book to really explain all the reasons why this school has helped our son as much as they have. Canbury is a caring school with heart. We will miss it very much.

Year 11 Parent, September 2023

After missing a considerable amount of schooling from large, mainstream maintained schools, my children finally turned a corner when they started at Canbury School in Years 8 and 9. Not without wobbles, but these were met with understanding, care and patience. All the staff know how hard transitions can be.

There is a good balance between academic expectation and pastoral care at the school. Parents and staff have the same goal, to help the children do and be the best that they can be. My children needed trust, consistency, understanding and kindness to excel, which they found at Canbury School.

Parent of Year 9 & 11 Students, September 2023

Our daughter, who is now in Year 11, has developed academically and emotionally during her time at Canbury School and her latest end of year report was a huge source of pride for us, and, more importantly, for her.

She has a sound grasp of many of her subjects and, more importantly, she enjoys going to school. We’re certain that is down to a combination of her hard work and the small, nurturing environment and individualised approach that Canbury is able to provide.

The staff are welcoming, encouraging and patient, helping her to gain confidence and independence.

Year 11 Parent, September 2023

There is a beauty to the small size of Canbury School and the staff-to-student ratio. It has made it a very adaptable and flexible school in terms of meeting individual students' learning objectives as well as emotional needs and at the same time it has enabled it to ensure rules are reasonably followed and boundaries are understood.
We looked at many schools before deciding that Canbury School was the best equipped and most open-minded and supportive school and that this would be the needed ingredients to make our son feel welcome as he was and it would also be able to challenge him to reach his potential on many levels.

Year 13 Parent, September 2023

Canbury School seems to catch the kids that are in the grey area of being very able, but still in need of consistent support and guidance.

Year 13 Parent, September 2023