Supporting recovery through learning: Interim Chief Executive, Ade Odunlade visits The Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School
Interim Chief Executive Ade Odunlade visited our on-site school at Bethlem Royal Hospital last week to learn about the personalised education support and opportunities the school offers to students who are also receiving treatment under our care whilst attending.
Image from left to right: Indiran Sinayan Assistant Headteacher, Ade Odunlade Interim Chief Executive SLaM, Maarten Crommelin CEO & Headteacher, Nalan Mustafa Administrator, Sam Kenny Teacher, Henrietta Onoh Teacher, Charda-Rae Aiken-Brown Teaching assistant, Mike Saxton Teacher, Kassie Powell Teaching assistant, Benson Chan Finance Officer, Dan Smith CFO, Susie Ofori Teaching assistant.
Maarten Crommelin, CEO and Headteacher of Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School, gave Ade a tour of the newly refurbished sports facility and gardens, which provide students with mental‑health‑focused learning opportunities through structured physical activity and therapeutic outdoor spaces. Speaking about the school’s approach to learning, Maarten Crommelin said:
Education in a mental health setting has to be gentle, but it also has to be ambitious. For us, exceptional education isn’t optional — it’s part of how we show young people that their futures still matter.
The school delivers personalised curricula tailored to each student’s individual needs through its Learning Pathways model, ensuring that every young person follows a broad and balanced curriculum designed to support both academic progress and personal development.
Maarten added, “We talked openly about the day-to-day reality of the school and about the strength of the long-standing partnership between Bethlem and South London and Maudsley. That relationship, built over many years of close collaboration, is rooted in shared values, trust and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people receiving treatment.”
Reflecting on the visit, Ade Odunlade said,
This is a remarkable education setting that has supported young people for more than 50 years. Walking through its beautifully designed classrooms, walled gardens, and specialist spaces, I was struck by the richness of opportunities the school offers. It was inspiring to see how thoughtfully the space has been designed to meet the needs of neurodiverse learners and those receiving inpatient care.
As part of the visit, Ade also spent time with colleagues at the National Autism Unit. During discussions with staff, he explored both the challenges and positive aspects of their day-to-day work. The visit emphasised the importance of open feedback from teams, which plays a key role in shaping improvements and continuing to build a supportive and rewarding working environment across the Trust.
The visit concluded with a final stop off at the Trust Learning and Development Team.
Find out more about The Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School here.
