New Direction, in Clowne, takes pupils aged 11-16 through a curriculum of key subjects combined with counselling activities involving horses and other animals.

Derbyshire Times reporter Jennifer Ivers spoke to centre chiefs and parents to find out what impact the school is having on troubled young lives...


Described as the 'last chance in education' for youngsters with behavioural problems, a Derbyshire school is aiming to help its pupils with difficulties both in and out of the classroom.

New Direction, in Clowne, provides a range of psychotherapy and counselling to manage the young people's conditions, which include autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Headteacher Gary Saul said New Direction, which currently has just four pupils, can provide one-on-one support to troubled youngsters, adding: "We've got one young man who was the worst student his former school had ever had. He was trashing classrooms and never settled.

"He's now in year ten and for the first time he's enjoying learning."

Qualifications

Pupils work towards academic qualifications in key subjects including numeracy, literacy and ICT, and also have opportunities to develop life skills, such as cooking.

The timetable incorporates equine psychotherapy sessions, which use activities with horses as a focus for counselling, and other forms of behavioural therapy.

Mr Saul said: "All the students have got statements of educational needs. They've all failed in mainstream schools and this is their last chance in education.

"The pupils have had a lot of problems in their backgrounds and we aim to provide a coherent care system. We deal with problems both in and out of school."

The school day starts with breakfast at 9am followed by maths and English lessons in the morning.

While some pupils help make a cooked lunch, the others groom and feed the centre's horses.

Afternoon activities include ICT or student council project work and there is time for various forms of counselling.

The day ends with a review where teachers reward achievements and good behaviour with points which pupils can 'exchange' for activities they enjoy.

New Direction, an independent school where pupil places are funded by local education authorities, has space for eight more young people.

For more information, contact manager Yvonne Evans on (01246) 810456 or by email on ringer.villa@btconnect.com