Edarabia had the pleasure of interviewing Principal Nick Fawcett, the visionary leader of The Winstedt School in Singapore. Principal Fawcett is passionate about transforming education for neurodiverse learners. In this interview, he shares his insights on creating inclusive learning environments, empowering neurodiverse students, and the future of education.
The Winstedt School will be launching our Young Explorer programme in 2025. The Winstedt School Young Explorers Programme is an innovative programme crafted specifically for Winstedt’s neurodiverse students in Years 1 and 2 (Early Years). This programme is tailored to meet the unique developmental needs of our neurodiverse early learners who require additional support in accessing the foundation curriculum.
The programme focuses on creating an engaging and supportive learning environment where each child’s unique developmental needs is recognized and nurtured. In addition to the academics, The Winstedt School Young Explorers Programme integrates a holistic Exploration and Life Skills component that incorporates Executive Functioning Skills, which includes Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), in addition to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). This comprehensive approach supports the development of interpersonal skills, fostering a sense of collaboration, empathy, and inclusivity among peers.
At its core, The Winstedt School Young Explorers Programme empowers each child to explore their world with confidence and enthusiasm, paving the way towards a journey of lifelong learning.
This year’s School Improvement Plan (SIP), developed based on stakeholder feedback and observations, focuses on three themes: Our Identity, Our Environment, and Our Communication. These priorities align with our guiding statements:
Supporting our whole-school, long-term, strategic plan, is our annual School Improvement Plan which identifies priorities from across the school – including academics. Through collaboration with our School Leadership Team and our Curriculum Coordinators, we regularly review student data and feedback, alongside departmental action plans to enable us to identify areas for academic focus.
One of our current areas of focus is further developing our fully WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accredited Winstedt Diploma – our bespoke, 4-year programme (Year 10-13), which successfully supports graduates with the next stage of their journey – whether employment, further or higher education.
One of the challenges I see is a shift towards transferable skills that are fully integrated and developed throughout a child’s time at school – so they are genuinely ready for their futures.
However, at Winstedt we have embraced this challenge already and so, having made the decision several years ago to develop our own, fully-accredited diploma, we are able to truly align our broad educational approach with what we believe our neurodiverse learners will benefit from, enabling them to graduate confidently, ready for their next chapter.
At Winstedt, many students and their families come to us with past school experiences shaped by frustration and difficulty due to their unique needs. By focusing on building trusting relationships and providing safe spaces where children feel accepted, we create an environment where they can thrive. Our model integrates in-house therapists who work closely with teachers, students, and parents, ensuring a collaborative, personalized approach to learning. As students grow in confidence, this approach not only boosts their motivation but also helps them see what they are truly capable of – often for the first time.
As an inclusive school for children who learn differently – this is what we do! With an educator / student ratio of 1:4, each child’s team (teachers, therapists, parents) work very closely to support individual needs – whatever they are. Being a small, Reception – Y13, school allows for a very strong community that provides many opportunities for all students to collaborate and spend time with each other, no matter the age.
With what can be additional challenges for parents of neurodiverse children in an international setting, it’s so important building a supportive network for them also. Our parent community is not only welcoming and active – it’s also understanding and supportive. This helps hugely.
School refusal, bullying, ostracism – these can happen to any child. That’s why The Winstedt School’s inclusivity and support services are designed for everyone, extending beyond students with learning challenges to also address the needs of neurotypical students who may be experiencing emotional or mental health struggles. This helps the school create a supportive environment that prioritises every child’s wellbeing, ensuring that each of them is valued and understood.
Social emotional learning is a crucial part of our school culture, where it reinforces teachable moments wherever possible to children on a daily basis, such as living out the school values of “be kind, be respectful, be safe, be responsible”. It also has an anti-bullying policy, as well as comprehensive group initiatives led by its Therapy and Pastoral Care team that support children in various aspects: from reducing reliance on screen time to helping them cope with loss.
At The Winstedt School, we take a comprehensive and personalised approach to preparing students for life after graduation. At the Upper Prep level, we include academic extension and Future Readiness modules designed to meet each student’s individual needs, ensuring alignment with our schoolwide learner outcomes. These modules are developed in collaboration with our team of therapists, including occupational, speech, school psychologists, and counsellors. This integrated approach equips students with the skills to excel academically and personally.
As students progress to Secondary School, our bespoke programme combines UK curricula with highly individualized electives and extension courses that cater to their unique needs and interests. We continually enhance the curriculum by leveraging diverse resources and building partnerships with tertiary education institutions to provide immersive post-secondary experiences. Our Career Electives programme offers our older students invaluable industry experience by regularly visiting various colleges and workplaces, allowing them to gain firsthand insights into life after graduation and explore both traditional and non-traditional career pathways.
As a school that provides a vast amount of wrap-around support for each student, this approach ensures each of them is well-prepared, confident, and ready to embark on their future endeavours. Through our dedicated staff and partners, we aim to help students discover their passions and talents. This semester we are running Drama, Theatre and Production, in conjunction with MySuperFuture, Transformers Coaching-with Cybertron Academy Graphic Design-with Raffles University and Culinary Arts, with At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy.This holistic educational model enables students to explore their talents and develop practical skills, ensuring they graduate equipped with the confidence and knowledge to thrive in an ever-changing world.
“‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ – Helen Keller
At The Winstedt School, we deeply value the partnership between home and school. We have a vibrant and close-knit parent community, supported by an incredible Parent League that have spearheaded impactful initiatives like past Spring Fairs to raise funds for school improvements. Parents also generously lend their time to organise and assist with termly parent coffees, workshops, showcases, performances, athletic events, and community gatherings along with the PL.
Their dedication truly reflects the inclusive and collaborative spirit of our school!
In short, it’s about being authentic and creating a positive environment where staff are genuinely valued and supported- thus helping them to grow and flourish.
Absolutely. By the school offering resources and building a collaborative, supportive culture of learning, helps to empower all staff.
As a leader, I believe it’s all about helping people grow and develop.
I may be slightly biased, but if I had to choose, I would say sport. Done well, in a positive, fun and supportive manner- it provides a platform to develop such a wide range of transferable skills -with instant opportunities for feedback / learning / development.
Unsure of who said it, but I have the following in my journal: Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.
Being a sports fan and originally growing up near Leeds in the UK, like many I’m sure, I have been moved by the emotional story of Rob Burrow, the former rugby league legend and his battle with MND.
I have a picture on my wall with his quote: in a world full of adversity, we must still dare to dream. For me, this encapsulates so much of what our school stands for: where our students have so many additional challenges to their learning and life in general, we have such an opportunity and responsibility to support each student with creating and supporting them on their journey towards achieving their dream.
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