The Learn@ Multi Academy Trust has plans to improve the life chances for students in the Bath area who have been or are at risk of exclusion from their secondary school, following a recent expansion.
Since 1st September 2018, Learn@, which manages four specialist schools in and around Bristol, has taken on the running of alternative provision in the Bath and North East Somerset area.
The new academy is called Rush Hill Lansdown Park Academy and has places for up to 20 students, from Years 7 to 11.
The trust is working with Bath and North East Somerset Council to expand its use of the site at the former Bath Community Academy from January 2019, once improvements such as upgrades to classrooms and facilities have been made.
Rush Hill Lansdown Park Academy will work with established partner organisations such as Empire Fighting Chance, Child Speech and Rocksteady to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and offer progression to further education.
The school employs specialist teachers and support staff, with experience in working with young people with social, emotional or mental health needs.
Executive Principal for Rush Hill Lansdown Park Academy Aileen Morrison said: “Young people in the Bath area who have not coped well in mainstream secondary school, often for reasons that are not their fault, deserve to continue with quality education that leads to reintegration back into mainstream secondary education or on to opportunities for further study, apprenticeships or employment.
“At Rush Hill we will build good relationships with local secondary schools to support young people before they become permanently excluded, as this is a damaging process for all concerned.
“Students will be able to spend a fixed amount of time with us while we work closely with them to turn around their experience of school and re-engage them positively in their education.
“Our aim is that they can then re-integrate back into mainstream secondary schools with the right support. Students will also be able to sit their exams with us if they are referred in Year 11.
“We also want to work closely with further education colleges and employers to provide meaningful routes onto further learning, work experience and employment.”
Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor Paul May, added: “We welcome Learn@ Multi Academy Trust as our new commissioned provider of this specialist service.
“They bring a wealth of specialist experience from their established schools to support some of our most vulnerable young people and where possible help them make a successful return to mainstream schools.”
