At Storyy, we understand that every young person’s journey through education is unique. Some students face challenges that make mainstream classrooms difficult to engage with, and that’s where our secondary-aged Alternative Provision sites come in. Birch Hill and Finchampstead are specifically designed to support learners aged 11–16, providing structured, creative, and practical learning environments that promote confidence, resilience, and reintegration into education.
Birch Hill: Sports, Music & Community Focus
Birch Hill offers a dynamic and supportive environment where learners reconnect with education while building essential life skills. The site combines sport, creativity, and community engagement to help students develop confidence, resilience, and positive relationships.
Key features of Birch Hill include:
- Sports programmes: Basketball, football, boxing, and cricket to encourage teamwork, discipline, and physical wellbeing.
- Music studio: A dedicated space for song writing, recording, and music production.
- Cooking and gym sessions: Hands-on sessions that teach practical skills and support health and fitness.
- PSHE curriculum and community projects: Integrating personal, social, and health education into real-world learning.
- SEMH and reintegration support: Tailored mentoring and programmes to support social, emotional, and mental health needs, helping learners overcome challenges and engage positively in education.
Birch Hill also runs outreach and respite mentoring programmes for young people nearing exclusion, providing early intervention and support to prevent disengagement and build resilience.
Finchampstead: Creative Arts & Mindfulness Focus
Finchampstead provides a calm, creative environment where learners can explore self-expression while developing focus, confidence, and wellbeing. By combining hands-on creative arts with structured mindfulness activities, Finchampstead supports both the emotional and academic growth of each student.
Highlights of the Finchampstead site include:
- Creative arts programmes: Hair and beauty, textiles, fashion design, performing arts, and other hands-on activities.
- Mindfulness and wellbeing: Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness activities integrated with the PSHE curriculum.
- Practical life skills: Cooking sessions and structured creative projects.
- AQAS certifications: Learners have the opportunity to work towards formal qualifications that support personal and professional development.
- SEMH and reintegration programmes: Focused on boosting confidence and enabling learners to re-engage with education positively.
Finchampstead is designed to nurture self-expression, resilience, and focus, providing a safe, supportive space for learners who may struggle in conventional classroom settings.
Who Are These Sites For?
Both Birch Hill and Finchampstead cater to secondary-aged learners (11–16 years old), particularly those with:
- SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) needs
- SEN (Special Educational Needs)
- Behavioural or engagement challenges
- Risk of exclusion or difficulty engaging in mainstream education
Through a combination of sport, creative arts, practical skills, mindfulness, and tailored mentoring, our sites help students reconnect with education, build confidence, and develop practical and emotional skills for life beyond school.
Why Choose Storyy AP Sites?
- Tailored learning experiences: Each learner follows a personalised timetable suited to their needs.
- Practical and creative learning: From sports and music to coding and cooking, students gain real-life skills.
- Supportive environment: Staff are highly trained to provide SEMH, SEN, and reintegration support.
- Focus on resilience and reintegration: Learners are supported to overcome challenges and engage positively with their education and communities.
At Storyy, our goal is to provide more than education, we create spaces where secondary-aged learners can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, preparing them for a successful future.
