Our Sites

Esteem Valley Academy is a 153 place, 3 site alternative provision academy, with the vast majority of places commissioned by Derbyshire County Council where permanent exclusion figures are currently 4 times the national average and rising. The academy provides provision for KS1 – KS4 pupils at risk of, or already permanently excluded from mainstream education. We provide onsite provision for Primary and KS3 students from our Bennerley site in Ilkeston and for our KS4 students from our Sawley site. As well as our onsite academic offer, for KS3 & KS4 pupils the academy has a highly effective AP offer managed from our Kirk Hallam site. Please click on the sections below for more information regarding each site:

Sawley Site - Key Stage 4

At our Sawley Site, we support Key Stage 4 students who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of permanent exclusion from mainstream education. We provide our students with the opportunity to gain meaningful qualifications that adequately prepare them for a successful transition within education or into employment and support their personal development, giving them the tools to make positive life choices.

We make learning relevant, linking our curriculum to career pathways and future opportunities. Our onsite curriculum offers a mix of academic and vocational qualifications designed to positively engage and appropriately challenge our students.

GCSE qualifications:

Maths
English Language
English Literature
Science
Art

Functional Skill qualifications:

Maths
English

Vocational qualifications:

BTEC Sport
BTEC Music
BTEC Media

Where capacity allows, further vocational learning opportunities are accessible through both our internal and external AP offer, industry exposure and work experience. From mechanics and construction to catering and hair and beauty, producing music in a professional recording studio and event management, we bring our curriculum to life and open our students eyes to the world of opportunities available to them.

Running alongside our qualifications our personal development programme is weaved throughout our curriculum and delivered in tutor time and PSHRE. Supporting our students social and emotional development we we aim to equip them with the essential skills and attributes they need to become well-rounded individuals who can thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

We work hard to develop positive relationships with our students and their families, working collaboratively across our school community to provide the best possible support. No matter their background, students are given a fresh start, are encouraged to look ahead to the future and make the most of the opportunities that Esteem Valley Academy has to offer.

Bennerley Site - Primary and Key Stage 3

At our Bennerley Site, we support students in Primary through to Key Stage 3 who have either been permanently excluded or are at risk of permanent exclusion from mainstream education. Our focus is to positively re-engage pupils in preparation for the next stage of their educational journey, whether that be reintegration to mainstream education or where appropriate transition between our own sites and key stages.

Our Primary provision offers academic mornings focused on core subjects, including phonics, and Personal Development afternoons where we deliver our REO curriculum. We have a mix of full time students who access our full programme and dual registered students who attend for either the morning or afternoon sessions.

At Key Stage 3 our students have access to a broad and balanced curriculum comprising of:

Maths
Science
Art
Geography
History
PSHRE
RE
PE

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is very much designed to support our students next steps and strikes a balance between academic and personal development. We support our students to understand and value themselves, develop positive relationships and make responsible decisions.

Kirk Hallam Site - Alternative Provision Team

Based at our Kirk Hallam site, our Alternative Provision Team (APT), provide a high quality, effective and inclusive alternative educational pathway for students that have been permanently excluded from education. We recognise that our on site offer is not the right fit for all and therefore an Alternative Provision pathway can develop a more personalised learning programme, tailored to the individual needs of our students, supporting them to positively re-engage with education.

APT supports students in Key Stage3 and 4 who access a blended curriculum, including a mixture of 1:1 support and access to both our internal and external AP offer. All our APT students have individual timetables with 1:1 support offered from our Kirk Hallam site, in the students home or any other appropriate setting and up to three days Alternative Provision.

Our internal and external AP offer covers a variety of subject areas offering both academic and vocational qualifications alongside practical skills that support their transition into further education, training and eventual employment. All of our alternative education providers are rigorously quality assured to ensure high educational standards.

Our 1:1 sessions focus on supporting students towards attaining Functional Skills qualifications in English, Maths and ICT with personal, social and emotional development weaved throughout their individual timetable, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter whilst attending at Esteem Valley Academy and post-16.