Alternative education
Alternative education
We believe every young person deserves the chance to shine, no matter their past experiences with mainstream education.
We partner with schools and youth offender services to offer a powerful blend of alternative education provision and transformative mentoring, meeting young people where they are.
We don’t just deliver qualifications; we empower individuals to achieve their potential, whether that’s through functional skills, GCSEs, ASDAN qualifications, or by confidently stepping back into mainstream schooling.
Switch Up is here to help young people reclaim and rewrite their story.
Providing a new path
Alternative education is about crafting a path that works for each individual.
We understand that traditional settings don’t suit everyone. Our ethos is built on personalised, consistent support, creating a safe and engaging environment where young people can learn, grow, and rediscover their confidence.
We focus on practical learning, real-world skills, and a belief that with the right support, you can achieve anything.
Our experience
Our dedicated team is a vibrant mix of experienced educators, compassionate mentors, and youth development specialists – all united by a shared purpose of empowering young people in Nottinghamshire.
Whilst achieving qualifications isn’t for everyone, we work hard to ensure that wherever possible our young people leave us with the tools they need to take the next step in their education or career.
Our team deliver:
– Functional Skills tuition in levels 1 & 2 in English and Maths
– GCSE level tuition in English and Maths
– A range of ASDAN qualifications
– The full PSHE curriculum
Safeguarding and compliance
Switch Up is a registered Alternative Education Provider with Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. We undergo annual compliance checks and safeguarding audits to ensure we operate in accordance with legislation and good practice in safeguarding, inclusive of a range of policies and procedures.
All staff receive an intensive safeguarding induction delivered by our Senior DSL, are required to complete comprehensive training courses, and are subject to enhanced DBS checks and risk assessments in compliance with safer recruitment guidance and legislation.
A risk assessment is completed for each participant we support, which highlights individual needs and circumstances as well as control measures to keep them safe. We are proactive in our response to any potential issues, maintaining logs and records of concerns, and working within a multi-agency network to identify and address issues.
No one should be defined by their toughest start.
In 2024, Switch Up supported 15 individuals along alternative education routes.
BE THE CHANGE
If you’re looking for an alternative education experience that truly puts you, your child, or your students first, we’re here. We’ll meet you where you are and help you unlock the incredible potential within.
