Exciting news...
So many young people fall through the gaps—struggling to fit into mainstream education but there doesn't seem to be sufficient specialist provision. Beacon Alternative School is being established as an Independent SEN school for children from Upper KS2 to KS4 who have an EHCP. In order to meet their individual needs, we will offer a fresh, flexible approach that nurtures curiosity, builds confidence. We want to prepare pupils for life beyond school with the support and structure they deserve. BA School will be small, with a maximum number of 12-16 full-time day places, running along our continued Alternative Provision.
We will provide a calm, safe space for learning, accommodating those pupils who just need the 'right' place to learn.
See below for more info and watch this space - we're a work in progress...
Our school is in the process of being registered and we are looking for start up funds in the meantime.
Register interest in Beacon School
Our Vision
At Beacon Alternative School, we believe in doing education differently. We are committed to reigniting our pupils’ natural curiosity by giving them the freedom to explore, discover, and create, while also ensuring they build the literacy and numeracy skills needed to thrive in adult life.
We recognise that qualifications such as GCSEs and A-Levels still hold significant value in both the education system and employment sector. That’s why we aim to equip every pupil with the opportunity to work towards these, where appropriate, without compromising their individuality or love of learning.
We may not be able to change the system (yet), but we can provide a new way of learning, one that challenges, inspires, and prepares our pupils for the real world. Through our thematic curriculum and a focus on life skills such as problem-solving, resilience, and teamwork, we nurture confident, capable individuals ready to make a meaningful contribution to society.
Our learning pathways
At Beacon Alternative School, we offer two tailored learning pathways to meet the individual needs and goals of our pupils.
Both pathways include RE, PSHE, PE, Cooking, ICT, and our unique thematic project learning, ensuring a well-rounded, engaging, and meaningful education.
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Pathway 1 – Academic focus:
For pupils able to work towards SATs and GCSEs in core subjects such as English, Maths, and Science. Pupils may also access additional GCSEs like History, Art, or Geography, depending on ability and interest. -
Pathway 2 – Life skills with English and Maths:
For pupils working at Entry Level or Functional Skills. This pathway focuses on core literacy and numeracy skills while building practical life skills, confidence, and independence for adulthood.
What we do differently:
Our thematic approach brings learning to life through half-termly, whole-school themes that run across all subjects. This is a 2 year rolling curriculum ensuring pupils are exposed to a range of topics and experiences, covering different themes to meet everyone's interests. These themes are covered in English, Maths and Science in the mornings.
Then, in the afternoons, pupils explore these themes through creative and practical project work, choosing a subject lens such as History, Art, Geography, Drama, Music or ICT. This allows them to follow their interests, build new skills, and make meaningful connections across the curriculum.
Activities might include designing and building a model town during a “Local Environment” theme, creating a fashion timeline linked to global cultures in "Fashion and Faith", filming a “Farm to Table” food documentary, or crafting an autobiographical art display for “Museum of Me.”
This flexible, student-led structure encourages curiosity, independence and collaboration, while preparing pupils for qualifications and life beyond school.
Maintaining Alternative Provision
While children are waiting for a permanent place at Beacon Alternative School, or any other SEN school, we will continue to offer our high-quality alternative provision to ensure there is no disruption to their learning or wellbeing. This includes tailored academic support, creative sessions, and access to our thematic curriculum through small group and 1:1 teaching. Pupils will be supported in line with their individual needs, EHCP targets, and learning pathways, helping them stay engaged, build confidence, and make a smooth transition when a full-time place becomes available.
