Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievement Foundation

Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievment Foundation launched on 7th September 2009 at UK Youth's Headquarters in the New Forest

It was a very exciting day when UK Youth's own Youth Achievement Foundation was opened at Avon Tyrrell, its Headquarters in the New Forest. With nine students starting, the first day proved to be even more successful than had been anticipated.

The young people really engaged with the programme and settled in well to the new environment. Nick Armitage-Smith, Head of the Youth Achievement Foundation, Avon Tyrrell said "The activities were well received and there were many smiling faces at the end of the day."

To read the full press release announcing the launch please click here.

The Avon Tyrrell Foundation was recently featured on its local radio stations Heart FM. To hear the piece click here.

About Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievement Foundation

Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievement Foundation (AT YAF) is an alternative education school aimed at young people in years 10 and 11 who find it difficult to engage in mainstream education. These young people will often have been excluded or be at risk of exclusion. The aim of AT YAF is to create an atmosphere of belonging where each young person feels comfortable enough to develop their own reasons for wanting to engage in learning.

Young people have a real say in how their individual learning programme is put together in terms of subject options so that they can choose routes that interest them. Throughout all learning every opportunity is taken to develop functional skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT which is accredited through Functional Skills qualifications. The small, dedicated staff team have been appointed because of their excellent communication skills and because they love working with challenging young people who have had difficulties engaging in mainstream education.

Linked to the AT YAF is a Community Mentoring programme. It is one thing changing behaviour and mind sets at a remote location during the school day but the same issues face these young people when they return to their own surroundings at the end of each day. These issues may relate to their living conditions, their relationships with family members, peer relationships or any of a host of other potential difficulties.

As a learner within AT YAF, they will have the opportunity to be allocated a volunteer mentor from the community. Volunteer mentors are carefully recruited and matched to each young person and will meet face-to-face for one or two hours each week as well as being available at the end of a phone in between whiles. These meetings will take place outside the school day, generally at a place of the young person’s choosing.

Why not click on the link below to have a look at the proposed curriculum offer for term one.

Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievement Foundation Proposed Curriculum Term 1

Find out what's been happening at the Foundation since it opened at the beginning of September and read our weekly diaries. Click on the links below...

Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievement Foundation Week One

Avon Tyrrell Youth Achievement Foundation Week Two