Westwood School was a specialist residential school for young people aged five to 19 with Autism or Asperger’s.
It opened sometime around 1984 and was originally called Pipewood School. I can’t find when it changed name.
In a 1999 audit it had 49 residential pupils, 31 boys and 18 girls.
Physical education formed the cornerstone of the curriculum. By participating in regular physical education sessions throughout the day, students disperse excess energy and develop the mental and physical composure needed for them to access the whole curriculum.
In 2002 the school closed at this site and opened nearby, in a brand new purpose built building with gymnasium and swimming pool, as Rugeley Horizon school. The new school has 48 pupils, 70 full time and 50 part time staff.
There’s quite a few buildings on site. All open. All trashed.
There is some evidence that builders were on site doing something in 2003, but they didn’t do much.
Looking across what used to be the upper lawn towards the gym and a dormitory building.
Dining and recreation hall.
Lounge of one of the dormitory buildings.
Staff room
Gym
Gym store
The outside of this building said “school health centre†but it looks like an art room/classroom and a store room.
Dormitory corridor
Typical bedrooms about 8’ x 12’
Classroom
The newspapers on the wall all dated after Jan 2003, 6 months after the school closed. There was builders stuff in here – looked like their tea room.
