CultureGiggs Building Specialist School for Neurodivergent Youth in Kent
British rapper Nathaniel Thompson, known to the world as Giggs, is making a significant move into education, establishing a new school and assessment center in Gravesend, Kent. This ambitious project, named St James House, is designed to support neurodivergent children and young people aged 11 to 18 who have been excluded from mainstream education.
In a collaborative effort with the OMG Foundation, Giggs is transforming a former office block into a specialized educational environment. The assessment center is slated to begin operations in September 2026, with the full school facility expected to welcome its first students in January 2027.
Giggs's motivation for creating St James House runs deep, rooted in his own life experiences. He has openly shared his journey with undiagnosed autism, a condition he understood more clearly following his son ML's diagnosis. The rapper also highlighted the challenges his three autistic children, Israel and Isla, have faced within the existing education system.
During his own school years, Giggs recounted being frequently labeled a "troublemaker" and often kicked out of class. He internalized these experiences, believing he was "bad" due to his undiagnosed neurodivergence. This early struggle, he noted, ultimately led him to serve two prison sentences, a path he is determined to help other neurodivergent young people avoid. Reflecting on his childhood, Giggs stated in one interview, "I always used to be in the playground by myself waiting for playtime to be over because I used to think everyone was immature but that was autism."
He has been a vocal advocate for neurodivergent children, shedding light on the arduous process families endure to secure Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). In a July 2025 interview, Giggs detailed how his son Israel was initially denied an EHCP, requiring expensive private assessments. His family was reportedly in the midst of a second appeal after more than a year of waiting. His daughter Isla, also autistic, faced similar denials.
