Lionheart School is the one-to-one school London families turn to when mainstream schooling has stopped working. We are small by design and highly specialised, offering full-time, part-time and hybrid places from Blythe Hall in W14, with a focus on transitions and onward placements into day and boarding schools, sixth form colleges and universities.
We can confidently say that at LSL, every one of our students succeeds.
We opened Lionheart School London in 2002, in response to families who valued our personalised home education services and wanted something more permanent. Today we teach pupils aged 4 to 18 one to one, full time, part time and online. We are also a registered exam centre, so external candidates can sit their GCSEs and A-levels with us.
Mainstream school does not suit every child, and most parents who contact us already know it. Many come to us after school refusal, a permanent exclusion, a long illness or an EHCP placement that has broken down. Others have a highly able child who is coasting, or a young athlete or performer whose training will never fit the school day.
We tailor every programme to the individual and work closely with schools, families and professionals to understand the full picture before teaching starts. Because the school sits within Lionheart Education, a place can be combined with home education support, private tuition, sitting exams as an external candidate, or alternative provision commissioned by a local authority.
“Many students come to us having faced challenges in traditional school settings — whether due to personal circumstances, disrupted learning, or simply not being stretched enough.
Our mission is to reignite their passion for learning through a captivating, bespoke curriculum tailored to their individual needs and aspirations.
We believe that with the right support, every young person can achieve success and find joy in learning.”
Oliver Gilsenan
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Unlike larger institutions, we can mirror your child’s exact subject portfolio across AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge (CAIE) and the IB, and pick up their learning at any point in the academic year.
Each curriculum is built around what the pupil has already covered, not their year group. Most pupils are ahead in some subjects and behind in others, and the teaching follows that. Pupils heading back to a mainstream or independent school usually follow the National Curriculum through to GCSE, while those arriving from abroad can continue with IGCSEs or the IB.
Specialist preparation for competitive day and boarding schools, including exam technique, interview coaching and confidence-building.
Rigorous support for academic, all-rounder, music and sport scholarships, tailored to the demands of each target school.
Bespoke pathways for families relocating to the UK or applying from overseas, so the academic and cultural transition is a smooth one.
GCSE and IGCSE Tuition
One-to-one subject-specialist tuition across all exam boards, focused on exam technique, confidence and mastery of the syllabus.
Expert tuition that bridges school teaching and university expectations, with tailored support for coursework, revision and exams.
One-to-one preparation for students resitting, with the option to sit the exams at our own centre.
Comprehensive support across the IB Diploma Programme, including Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge guidance.
Bespoke coaching on personal statements, interviews and university selection, guiding students towards the right higher education pathway.
Individualised guidance for students thinking about what comes next, including subject choices and long-term career planning.
A selection of onward schools and universities our students have attended
Tailored to every learning profile
Large classrooms do not work for many children with autism, ADHD, anxiety or sensory difficulties, and some have already been let down by SEN provision elsewhere. Our one-to-one model lets us adapt teaching to the individual and move away from methods that have not served them well in the past.
Families looking for a school that accepts EHCP students in London can talk to us about their child’s plan, how we work alongside health professionals, and whether a local authority-funded placement is possible.
Autism spectrum disorder
Students on the spectrum (ASD) often do best with structure and predictability. At Lionheart, lessons are adapted to play to strengths, reduce anxiety and build confidence in social and academic settings. Our tutors are experienced in designing programmes that align with EHCPs, while fostering independence and curiosity in a safe, low-pressure environment.
Attention deficit disorder
For students with attention differences (ADHD, ADD), the pace and intensity of one-to-one tuition can be transformative. We build focus strategies, structured routines and breaks into sessions to help students sustain attention. Alongside subject tuition, we coach executive functioning skills such as organisation, time management and self-regulation, so good habits carry into school and exams.
Special educational needs
Our SEND provision covers a wide range of learning differences, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, and processing and working memory difficulties. Tutors use multi-sensory strategies, scaffolded learning and confidence-building exercises so every child feels capable. Parents also benefit from close communication and consultancy on school placements.
Education, health & care plans
We have extensive experience supporting students with EHCPs, making sure individual goals translate into daily teaching. Our one-to-one environment lets us meet requirements while accelerating progress, particularly in literacy, numeracy and social skills. We also teach pupils whose plans are still under review.
Mental health disorders
For students managing anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions, large classrooms can feel overwhelming. Lionheart provides the flexibility for students to engage with education as well as therapy or any other necessary treatment at Lions Campus or elsewhere.
School exclusion & reintegration
Exclusion does not have to derail a student's education. Our school provides immediate stability and personalised teaching while addressing underlying behavioural or emotional needs. When appropriate, we prepare students for reintegration into mainstream settings with their learning intact and their confidence restored.
Behavioural issues
Many behavioural challenges stem from unmet learning needs or environments that don't suit a child's temperament. Our tutors work patiently and consistently, setting clear boundaries while offering positive reinforcement. Over time, students learn to self-regulate and put their energy into academic and personal growth.
Gifted & talented students
Bright minds need challenge. For students ahead of their peers, mainstream schools can feel limiting. At Lionheart, we accelerate learning, introduce higher-level material and encourage critical thinking well beyond the curriculum. We also support scholarship preparation and advanced pathways such as Oxbridge or the IB Diploma.
A typical day at Lionheart School
We have built a reputation for running one of the most bespoke and focused schools in London. Every moment is tailored and every student known. See how a one-to-one day works in practice, academically and pastorally.
A typical day at LSL
Because every timetable is built from scratch, we can offer short and long-term placements, blend school with private tuition, or give home-educated children a place to learn with an experienced tutor a few days a week. We often act as a bridge while a child moves between schools, or as a way to close gaps for pupils arriving from abroad and new to the British curriculum.
Our alternative provision in West London works with pupils experiencing school refusal, EBSA, anxiety and SEND, within the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 and the statutory guidance on EHCPs. Online and hybrid options let families keep teaching going when attending in person is not possible, and for families who have chosen to home educate, our team can plan the whole programme, including timetabling and revision.
Our Key Aim
"Preparing our students for entry into the optimal school or university is central to the LSL modus operandi."
Oliver Gilsenan Managing Director of Lionheart Education
A Student's Perspective
“I ended up preparing for my Maths and English GCSEs in just four months. The tutors were genuinely supportive and completely invested in me. The highlight was opening my GCSE results and realising I’d actually done really well.”
Noah Former Student at Lionheart School
Lionheart School Tutors
"Our tutors are not only educators. They are writers, musicians, directors, scientists and professional athletes. We believe their lives beyond teaching make them richer mentors — people who model curiosity, discipline and ambition in a way students instinctively respond to."
Oliver Gilsenan Managing Director of Lionheart Education
We support students who thrive outside of conventional classrooms — from those with learning differences such as ASD, ADHD, or SEND, to high-achieving, gifted students, athletes, and young people needing flexible provision.
Unlike traditional classrooms, we teach on a one-to-one or very small group basis. This allows us to tailor every lesson to a student’s pace, goals, and learning style, creating rapid progress and renewed confidence. We offer incredible flexibility for our students, with some combining online or homeschooling programmes alongside in-person attendance.
Yes, we accept students year-round, often at short notice, and design programmes that allow them to transition smoothly with minimal academic disruption.
We support Common Entrance (11+ and 13+), GCSEs, IGCSEs, A Levels, and the IB, alongside scholarship preparation and university applications. As a registered examination centre, we also work with all major UK exam boards.
Alongside academics, we provide mentoring, confidence coaching, and specialist support for mental health or behavioural challenges, ensuring students feel safe and motivated.
