Nottingham’s Stone Soup Academy to establish sixth form for student support

A school is planning to establish a sixth form to enhance support for its students’ education. Kerrie Henton serves as the executive principal of Stone Soup Academy in Nottingham, an institution that caters to pupils aged 11 to 16 who have encountered difficulties in mainstream schooling. However, Ms. Henton observed that some students did not transition smoothly into further education or employment after departing Stone Soup. Consequently, Ms. Henton aims to create the sixth form. She stated: “Our students are not here because they can’t achieve great things, but because they might not have had the best start in life and we want to make sure they have a future.” She continued, “Mainstream education may not have been right for them, but when they come to us, we’re able to meet their needs more effectively and we get fantastic outcomes.” Ms. Henton added, “It does nothing but fill you with pride to know you’ve played a part in the success they’re making of their lives.” Stone Soup currently enrolls 110 students who present with various challenges, including ADHD and autism, which often makes large class environments difficult for them. Ms. Henton further noted that one in two students in alternative school provisions could “fail” to adapt to work or education, indicating a need for greater assistance. She declared, “What post-16 alternative provision we have in Nottingham is not enough.” The proposed sixth form would accommodate eight pupils, who would pursue GCSEs alongside a weekly one-day work experience placement and a vocational qualification selected to align with their career objectives. Ms. Henton is now seeking to engage local businesses to provide work placements for students, hoping this will aid in securing funding for the new sixth form. She elaborated: “We want to buck the trend to ensure [our students] become a success. “We’re looking for companies to work with a student one day a week so they can see how good they are and employ them, then the don’t fall off the edge. “We need them to give our young people an opportunity where they can grow.” For updates, follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.