A Headstart in Ninfield

Headstart, based on a farm in Crouch Lane, is a small independent secondary school specialising in one-on-one tuition for youngsters who have fallen out of the mainstream system.

There are 12 members of staff working with no more than 11 students aged between 11-18, and they are all "delighted" at the success rate this year.

Nicki Dann, head teacher, said: "We are thrilled with our 100 percent pass rate and GCSE and Entry Level.

"All our year 11s left with GCSE's. We are extremely proud of them and we want to acknowledge their hard work and celebrate their achievements.

"Our congratulations go to Alan Price, Amanda Simmonds, Gareth Baker, Michael McGuinness and Kieron Gilmour, and we wish them well for the future."

Kelly Cornwall, a current year 11 student, also achieved the highest grade at Entry Level Certificates in Science and Maths.

Nicki started the school herself in 1999 with just three students.

"I started as a teacher with a small group in the barn. I looked after children who weren't receiving mainstream education, so they were very vulnerable young people...I was teaching them the basics of maths, English etc."

After she contacted the Local Education Authority and registered as a school, she found other teachers wanted to come in to work with her, and four years ago Headstart registered with the Department of Education.

"Now we offer the full national curriculum plus many vocational subjects so we can offer subjects like farming and horticulture, and we give an individual programme of learning for each child.

"Most of our teaching is one to one - it is intense."

She believes the strengths of the school lie in the different environment it provides being based on a farm, the varied programme which gives students the chance to find what feels right for them, and the close staff to student ratio.

Apart from the basic subjects such as English, maths, and science which are not optional, students are offered a wide range of subjects which are practical and geared to their personal interest, such as forestry, gamekeeping, orienteering, painting and decoration, and fashion design. For more information on Headstart School contact Nicki Dann on 01424 890803.