The Hospital School at Westmead

Empowering learners, where they're at.

Telephone02 9845 2813

Emailchildhosp-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Our history

Education for students who are in hospital was introduced as far back as 1923.

The idea originated with Miss M. Simpson who was so deeply impressed with the immense efforts of a young patient who was teaching himself to read. 

The school, later known as the Fred Birks Activity School, was opened with 16 students on November 10 1930, in the grounds of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Camperdown.

In 1995 the school moved inside the walls of Westmead Children's Hospital where there are now multiple classrooms and 1 to 1 teaching across the wards for students from around Australia and neighbouring countries.

2 teachers and a group of students sitting for a class photo in 1936
Image: Class photo on day 1, 1936.
A student reading a newspaper in front of the class
Image: Sharing news with the class, 1936.

Related content

The Hospital School at Westmead

General enquiries

CallGet directionsMail

Follow us

We would like to pay our respects and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and also pay respect to Elders both past and present.

Copyright for this website is owned by the State of New South Wales through the Department of Education. For more information go to http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/footer/copyright.