Self Managed Learning college

Brighton's Self Managed Learning College is a proven alternative to school.

We've been using the Self Managed Learning approach over many years - and it works.

There’s lots we know about how children and young people learn. For instance they are all different – yet school assumes that children and young people will learn in the same way. In a classroom. And they will all learn the same things. Through a fixed curriculum.

In our approach we really do treat each young person as an individual. So we don’t have classrooms or an imposed curriculum. Each student is able to work out for themselves what and how they want to learn.

This is a proven alternative to school. For instance in the 13 years since we started all our 16 year olds have gone on to sixth form or further education colleges. Colleges welcome the maturity and thoughtfulness of our students – because they have learned to manage their own learning and are equipped to pursue their educational goals.

Students are part of a learning community that is a real alternative to school regimentation.

We call this Self Managed Learning. In our approach the role of staff is to support young people (aged 8 to 16) in learning what they need to have a good life and an enjoyable career.