Richard Barnes Academy

Richard Barnes Academy (RBA) is an alternative provision where we focus on developing individuals strengths and celebrating every success.

RBA is a two-campus provision where all stakeholders work effectively and enthusiastically to ensure success for learners.

We enable young people to change the direction of their lives.  Through positive relationships and a strong focus on our core values of Respect, Believe and Achieve, all young people have the opportunity to re-engage with education, taking ownership of their lives and their choices.

We support young people who struggle with conventional education or due to particular changing and often traumatic events in their lives, need a period of time in an alternative provision setting. The length of stay at the Richard Barnes Academy for learners is dependent upon their individual pathway.

We offer alternative provision with a firm focus on supporting, engaging and raising the aspirations of every young person.  All learners work towards achieving meaningful qualifications that will allow them to transition back into a mainstream school or onto a Post 16 course at one of our local FE providers.

We believe that all young people have the potential to become successful adults. Strong and healthy relationships our pupils and with each other mean that staff really know the pupils and their needs and can ensure success is achieved by providing exactly the right support at the right time. We ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to experience success and make progress.

Our greatest asset though at The Richard Barnes Academy is our staff who go above and beyond to promote a love of learning, which enhances pupils’ achievement and supports their personal, social and emotional development. We provide another chance for young people to access education, make progress and change the direction of their lives.

We are a truly inclusive school, where our young peoples’ needs come first.  We are committed to working with and alongside our families and multi agency partners to offer the support that they need to make a real difference in their lives.  Due to the vulnerabilities of our young people and their families, safeguarding expectations and practices are at the highest level and are regularly reviewed to maintain best practice.

RBA is part of the Thomas Deacon Education Trust which provides a great community and a network of support and expertise. Importantly, the Trust's vision is to give students the highest-quality of education possible and the best start in life.