About Us
We specialise in supporting secondary-aged learners and post-16 students who may be looked-after, have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or need a fresh start in an environment that recognises their potential. Our tailored approach blends academic learning with real-world skills, emotional support, and a firm belief that every young person deserves a pathway to success.
In a Snapshot
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Tailored tutoring
Strive provides fully personalised tutoring that adapts to each young person’s needs, interests, and learning style. Tutors work closely with the learner and their school to identify gaps, reduce barriers, and create flexible, trauma-informed sessions that build both skills and confidence. By blending academic support with practical learning and wellbeing-focused check-ins, Strive ensures every young person receives tutoring that feels supportive, engaging, and tailored to their progress.
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Specialist tutors
Strive works with specialist tutors who bring real expertise to each vocational area, ensuring young people learn from professionals with genuine industry experience. Whether in construction, creative media, hair and beauty, or other pathways, tutors tailor their approach to the practical skills and knowledge required in that field. This means learners benefit from hands-on guidance, relevant insights, and high-quality teaching that reflects current industry standards. By matching young people with specialists who understand their chosen pathway, Strive helps them develop confidence, competence, and clear progression routes into further training or employment.
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SENCo’s
Strive employs multiple SENCOs across its sites to ensure every young person receives the tailored support they need to thrive. These specialists work closely with tutors, pastoral staff, and external professionals to understand each learner’s individual needs, create effective support plans, and oversee adjustments that remove barriers to engagement. By being present across different sites, SENCOs can respond quickly, offer direct guidance to staff, and maintain consistent, high-quality provision. This coordinated approach ensures that every young person, regardless of their pathway or location, benefits from specialist oversight that promotes inclusion, wellbeing, and meaningful progress.
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Real world settings
Both Strive sites have been purpose-built from the ground up to create realistic, industry-inspired work environments that prepare young people for the world of work. Each space is designed to mirror the tools, settings, and expectations found in real vocational workplaces, helping learners develop practical skills and professional behaviours in a setting that feels authentic and engaging. By training in spaces that replicate real-world conditions, young people gain confidence, understand industry standards, and build the readiness they need to transition smoothly into further training, apprenticeships, or employment.
A Place for everyone
At Strive, we offer more than education, we offer an environment where young people get to experience what success feels like. Through positive relationships, meaningful achievements, and a culture of encouragement, learners grow in confidence, build self-esteem, and begin to believe in what they can do and who they can become.
Our vision for Strive Academy is to create a learning environment that has the wow-factor for both young people and staff. We want our young people to realise the real opportunities available to them both at Strive and when they move into the world of work. For us to facilitate this opportunity means having an effective and meaningful curriculum driven and supported by a quality staff team and robust systems to ensure that we can offer an authentic and tailored approach for each young person, meeting their unique needs.
Paul Riley
Owner/Director of Operations
Our ethos
Strive Academy is a leading alternative education provider that empowers young people to take an active role in shaping their futures. We partner with each learner to make the journey of education an engaging and rewarding experience. We help challenge limiting beliefs, dismantle barriers, and build a strong sense of self and community.
Find Out More
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Our Vision & Values
At Strive Academy, our vision is to create a learning community where young people are empowered to succeed, not only in the classroom, but in life.
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Meet the Team
We pride ourselves on small group teaching and a highly engaging environment, where relationships matter and progress is personal. Our team is passionate about helping each learner find their path and reach their potential.
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Our Offer
At Strive Academy, we provide a dynamic and practical curriculum tailored to the interests and strengths of each learner. Our offer is designed to help young people develop the skills, confidence, and experience they need to progress into further education, employment, or training.