The Red Balloon Learner Centre – Northwest London is an independent day special school. The school is situated in a large house in a residential part of Harrow with students coming from surrounding local authorities in west London and from diverse backgrounds. They are usually funded by their local authorities and lengths of time spent at the centre vary from one term to over two years, depending on need. Students vary widely in their academic abilities on admission and almost all have complex needs, notably behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. Many have experienced severe disruption to their education and have experienced severe bullying in their previous schools. Currently, there are six students on roll aged between 13 and 15 years, of whom five have statements of special educational needs. The centre is part of the Red Balloon Learner Centre Group, a consortium operating nationally, which was established in Cambridge in 1996 and is a registered charity. The school opened in April 2008 and its last full inspection was in June 2009. The school aims to provide ‘a safe and stimulating environment encompassing an individual, full-time, academic, pastoral and therapeutic programme’ and to provide a programme for each student that is designed to prepare them for the next stage in their educational ‘journey’. It also aims to support them in their return to mainstream education, entry into further education, employment or training. The school is currently registered to take up to 15 boys and girls aged from 10 to 17 years. The school is now seeking approval from the Department for Education to change the age range so that it caters for students aged from 11 to 17 Years.