Northfield Mental Hospital School, later Hillcrest Hospital School (GA2321)

In September of 1963 the Education Department appointed two teachers for the instruction of intellectually disabled children within the Northfield Mental Hospital, and initially, these teachers and their pupils were accommodated in Ward 1. Expansion later involved Wards 4, 9 and 11.

The school was initially known as Northfield Mental Hospital Occupation Centre, the Northfield Mental Hospital School. In 1964 the Hospital and consequently the school, changed its name to Hillcrest.

In 1965 the school was reclassified, and a C1.V Head Teacher was appointed. A new school building, supplied and equipped by the Hospitals Department, and erected by the Public Buildings Department, was occupied in September 1965 when the enrolment had reached in excess of 50 students, some of whom were accommodated in the new building, whilst groups in Wards 4 and 11 remained.

This school building had accommodation for approximately forty pupils and as at August 1968 there were over ninety children receiving some instruction, of whom about 40 were accommodated at the school, whilst the remaining children were instructed within the wards.

In 1968 the Acting Supervisor of Child Occupation Centres applied to the Chief Psychologist, the Director General of Education and the Director of Mental Health Services for more classrooms to be constructed urgently; as the completion of the proposed Strathmont Hospital was still expected to be several years in the future.
The work was delayed for several years in awaiting funding and planning issues to be resolved and was finally completed in 1971. (1)

The school was closed at the end of the 1970 school year and the students were transferred to the new Strathmont Training Centre, the school of which was to be named Piddington Special School. (2)

Sources:

(1) GRS809/1, File ED 258/1/1
(2) GRS809/1, File ED 1176/3/1