Simone Aspis

Simone was born in 1969 in Dollis Hill, London. She went to a residential special school in Cheshire from the age of four until sixteen. From there she went on to college and then university.

A Broader Balance

Here Simone talks about changes she has seen and some things that have not changed.

Twenty Ways of Looking

Here Simone talks about what was missing from her education.

Becoming an Activist

Here Simone describes her working life leading her towards campaigning.

Sociology

Here Simone talks about her first studies after leaving school.

Bullying Each Other

Here Simone describes a culture of bullying within her school and outside of school.

No Privacy Whatsoever

Here Simone describes life at her residential school.

Quicker Brains

Here Simone describes the attitude of the educational psychologist who reviewed her special school placement.

An Open or Shut Door

Here Simone describes the impact of education on how a person experiences the world.

Negative Self Image

Here Simone recalls her negative self image due to being segregated.

Control

Here Simone describes a culture of control.

Low Aspirations

Here Simone talks about her parents’ aspirations for her.

Control and Divide

Here Simone talks about her Head Teacher creating obstacles to friendship.

Feeling Angry

Here Simone talks about the isolation she felt from her family and her community.

‘Special’ Carriage

Here Simone talks about her journey to school by train.

Eating Yoghurt

Here Simone talks about having less opportunity of learning with a narrow curriculum

One Goal Post

Here Simone talks about the lack of sports facilities at school.