The Princess Royal visited Catch22’s Include London school on Wednesday to tour its renewed site and learn about the positive improvements it has made to its curriculum offer.

Include London is an independent school based in West London that provides full-time, alternative, secondary education for young people aged between 13 and 17 years old. Its team of dedicated teachers, teaching assistants and pastoral staff support students to reengage in learning and thereafter transition into positive post-16 destinations. Many of the school’s pupils have been absent from education for a sustained period or have been excluded from their previous school.

Her Royal Highness’ visit was made in her capacity as Patron of Catch22, which in total delivers four schools across the UK in London, Suffolk, Norfolk and Wales: all of which come under Catch22’s ‘Include‘ banner of alternative provision schools.

During her visit, Her Royal Highness received a tour of the school from Headteacher, Jo Shuter, and one of the pupils, who took her to see lessons in Art and Citizenship in action. Her Royal Highness also met with Include London staff, hearing from them about their work to support some of the most vulnerable young people in London.

Following the tour, Her Royal Highness, staff and students assembled to watch a musical showcase and poetry recital performed by students. Her Royal Highness was then gifted a painting done by one of Include London’s Year 11 pupils, which depicted a famous photograph of The Princess Royal riding a horse.

The visit culminated in Her Royal Highness unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit, which now hangs proudly in the main hub of Include London’s Freston Road site.

Jo Shuter, Headteacher for Include London said:

“It was an honour to host the Princess Royal at Include London and showcase the work that we do here. The opportunity for students to engage with Princess Anne is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. The visit itself sends a strong signal about the importance of specialised, tailored education for those who the mainstream model does not fit, and we’re pleased that the Princess Royal recognises this.”