Pupils took centre stage at Kisharon Noé School on Thursday 2 November when it was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Duke met and chatted with the children, some with profound and complex learning disabilities, toured the school’s cutting-edge facilities and met many of those responsible for the school’s £13.5 million rebuilding project.

Headteacher, Emily Haddock said: “We were deeply honoured to welcome many distinguished guests to Kisharon Noé School today. Here we believe in providing exciting, creative, relevant, and meaningful learning experiences and the visit by the Duke Of Edinburgh is an experience which the children will cherish forever.”

The refurbishment took two years to complete – five from conception – and now combines modern facilities within a Grade II listed setting in Hendon. The nine classrooms each have height adjustable desks, interactive screens, break out areas and specialist lighting, while a variety of outdoor spaces meet different ages and needs. A hydrotherapy pool with light settings and seabed murals stimulates imagination, creativity and mobility.

Other facilities include a sensory stimulation room, a dedicated area for rebound therapy, physiotherapy rooms and a food tech space with adjustable worktop heights and ‘slide ‘n hide’ door ovens designed for young people using wheelchairs.  A space on the first-floor roof area houses a vegetable growing area.  Teaching and therapy spaces have hoist tracking in the ceiling and hygiene rooms around the building are tailored to different ages.

Richard Franklin, Kisharon Langdon Chief Executive, and Leo Noé addressed the Duke at the Wohl Campus, Kisharon Noé School, a Loftus Learning Centre. The Duke congratulated all those whose vision brought the school to life and then unveiled the plaque. He was thanked by Professor David Latchman, Chairman of the Trustees of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation.

The Free School, with a Jewish ethos, meets the needs of pupils from 4-19 years old. One of the most advanced of its kind for pupils with SEND or complex needs, Kisharon Noé School is a flagship for Kisharon Langdon’s drive to promote equal opportunities for all.

The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of every pupil with the aim of developing independent living skills ready for life after leaving school.