What we do

Our team welcomes pupils from across the Wise Owl Trust to our purpose-built hub at Briscoe Lane Academy.

Some of the children that come to us are at risk of exclusion, some come because they need extra support socially or academically. Our aim is to make sure they all leave with confidence and self-respect ready to continue their school journey.

At Team Up we know that some of the children we work with face more challenges than others – so we give them more tools to learn from mistakes and cope with whatever life throws at them. We have more staff for the number of pupils, we work in smaller groups and we do everything we can to make sure the curriculum is tailored to that individual child.

A combination of teaching staff and Commando Joe’s instructors, our team combine a wealth of life experience with academic expertise.

Together, we have created a unique approach – building lessons on character, resilience and determination in to the core curriculum.

Some of the children we work with have exceptional barriers to learning. We are here to help them break down those barriers and learn the life skills they need to really achieve everything they are capable of.

Coming to school is an adventure when you are at Team Up.

From walking the Amazon river to learning how to make your own Viking ship, every day holds the promise of a different challenge.

Our team work on missions that help pupils approach life and learning in a different way. And, thanks to our high staff to pupil ratio, they are there for one-to-one support to find the best way to encourage even the most hard to reach child to take part.

The day starts with the children making their own breakfast in our tailor-made hub and sharing it with others. It may sound like a simple thing but it sets the tone. This is a place where you learn to take responsibility for yourself and others.

From there the day could lead anywhere thanks to our mission-based curriculum, focusing on real-life inspirational heroes and heroines such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes or Nancy Wake.

Of course we cover the curriculum basics such as Maths and English – but integrated into daring missions across the Antarctic or forays up Mount Everest. And we get outside, with physical challenges, obstacle courses, and games designed to get our children working as a team through play as well as work.

But the main lesson at Team Up is in building character. We believe children don’t fall out of the school system because they can’t achieve – but because sometimes they just feel there are too many barriers in their way.

Where children think they can’t do a subject, we work on self-belief, confidence and resilience to help them try different tactics. Where children are being excluded for disruptive behaviour, we work on communication skills, compassion and respect for others.

It’s about empowerment, finding their own voice and learning how to use it. Not just when they eventually leave us to return to their classes but to face whatever challenges life has to throw at them.

“Whilst at Team Up, I have learnt how to behave better and this has helped me now I am back at school. Now I try not to annoy other children in my class and instead of throwing things if I get angry, I try and walk away and calm myself down.”