About us
We are a self-managed learning environment for young people aged 11 - 16 based in Sheffield.
We are an in-person community and a safe space where young people can choose what, when and how they learn based on what feels right to them.
We are not a school, so we don't have classrooms, teachers or an imposed curriculum.
Community
Being a part of a community is a central part of the self managed learning experience and because of this, our community are together for 3 and a half hours a day, 5 days a week in term time.
We are a democratically-operated space in which young people can be themselves, build and navigate relationships, and feel a sense of belonging.
The Learning Group
Each young person is assigned a learning group, which is ideally 5 or 6 young people of a similar age with an adult mentor. The idea of the learning group is that each person can plan their own learning with support from the others.
This group will meet every week and give everyone the chance to review their progress from the last week and set new goals for the upcoming week.
Mentors (Not Teachers!)
Adults who are present are mentors not teachers. They help guide the young people through the following steps:
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Working out their learning needs
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Deciding on learning goals
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Identifying ways to learning
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Choosing learning strategies
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Evaluating learning outcomes
Learning Agreement
Our learners are given help to come up with a plan. During the first week we go through a series of questions that the young people answer. Each person is able to answer these questions in any way that they want:
01
Where have I been?
02
Where am I now?
03
Where do I want to get to?
04
How will I get there?
05
How will I know if I've arrived?
The answers to these questions form the basis of a learning agreement which is written and agreed between the mentor and the young person.
The young person is free to change their goals, but it should be agreed through discussion with their mentor and learning group.