School 180, Carlisle’s new Alternative Provision school in Harraby, has opened its doors to pupils following the completion of its £3m build.

Named School 180 because it will help turn young lives around, it will provide specialist support to the growing number of young people who struggle to access mainstream education because of social, emotional or mental health issues.

The school provides state-of-the-art facilities to support the achievement of Cumbrian young people by offering a broader curriculum with a range of creative and vocational pathways available.

180 Is Like Going From A Robin Reliant To A Lamborghini

Rachel Clarke, Headteacher at School 180, described students going into the new build as going from a Robin Reliant to a Lamborghini.

“It’s fantastic to have the school open and ready to welcome pupils. Pupils walk into this new building and they are in awe, one of them said it’s like going from a Robin Reliant to a Lamborghini,” She said.

“For young people who have often had difficulties at mainstream school and had their confidence really knocked, it makes them feel worthy and really valued to see this investment in their future. I am really excited about the impact having this great new building will have on the things that our pupils can achieve.”

Increasing Alternative Provision School Places

Built by local firm Roland Hill Ltd following a £3m investment by the county council, the school will provide places for 40 pupils and be managed by the Gilford Centre Pupil Referral Service.  Another new school of the same size is currently being developed in Barrow.

Cllr Sue Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning, said: “It was wonderful to see the new building and meet some of the pupils who will benefit from it. The facilities are first-rate and will make a genuinely huge difference to their experience at school and what they can achieve.

“We know there are many pupils who don’t do well in mainstream school, but with a change of environment and curriculum, as is possible in an alternative provision setting like this, can really do well.

“The county council has made increasing the availability of places at Alternative Provision schools a priority and we are looking forward to a second school opening in Barrow in future.”

What Is An Alternative Provision School?

According to Gov.uk an Alternative Provision school is an education provided for a child or young person who is unable to access mainstream school for reasons including school exclusion, behavioural issues, or illness.

Around 135,000 pupils in England attend alternative provision settings at some point during each school year.