Vulnerable youngsters are getting fired up

Vulnerable youngsters are getting fired up to reach new goals at two of Merseyside’s newest schools.
Progress Schools, an alternative education provider with schools throughout England and headquarters in Speke, now has its first intake of students in place at one of the city’s most exciting youth venues – the Fire Fit Hub Super Youth Zone in Toxteth.
More students are receiving their education at Marine AFC, a fan-owned community football club in Crosby, where vital new experiences and opportunities are being opened up for the youth of North Merseyside and South Sefton.
At the Fire Fit Hub, teaching of formal academic subjects takes place in state-of-the-art classrooms. However, students are able to make use of the youth zone’s world-class sport, music and cultural facilities which include five-a-side and seven-a-side football pitches, dance and martial arts studio, fitness suite and gym with its weights and boxing ring.
The setting of Progress Schools’ Marine AFC base makes it perfect for its offer of an extensive array of BTEC sports qualifications for learners who are passionate about sport. As well as taking a range of modules which cover both practical and theoretical elements of the qualifications, an added bonus is that they can attend live games and discuss tactics and formations with their tutor.
James Madine, Progress Schools chief executive said: “We are giving young people aged between 13 and 16 an important second chance to learn and gain essential life skills after being excluded from school, or being at risk of exclusion, for a whole variety of reasons ranging from behavioural and emotional issues to long-term illness.
“An excluded child is likely to be seen as a source of trouble and many schools are unwilling to take on ‘problem’ pupils. These are the issues we are aiming to address to make sure exclusion from school is not an exclusion from a good education.
“Both our Merseyside schools are based within solid community settings where young learners want to be – so for many of them the first hurdle of actually turning up for lessons is being addressed.”
Progress Schools are sponsoring the SEND Provision Award at this year’s Educate Awards.