New Pathways at Bexhill High School

Also in attendance were many other local dignitaries including Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon, and Chairman of Rother District Council Cllr Martin Kenward.

The unit, which was the brainchild of Pathway's Coordinator Amanda Charlesworth, is for children from years 10 and 11 who have either been permanently excluded, are at risk of being permanently excluded or who have been non-school attenders.

On cutting the ribbon the High Sheriff emphasised the importance of the unit and said: "I am delighted and proud to be here; every child does matter, every child's future does matter."

The centre, which is a completely separate building to the main school, opened a little over a year ago and its success has been astounding, with many of the pupils successfully taking their GCSE exams a year early.

Amanda explained that the concept behind the unit was to remove learning barriers for students. She said: "The idea is that if they weren't here they would have been permanently excluded and would have been on the streets committing crimes possibly, or not in any education at all. The pupils come here for the full two years to do all their GCSE studies. There are no more then five pupils in a group and the smaller groups mean that the students work better."

Last year there were approximately 23 students who benefited from attending the centre but there are never more than 15 students there at any one time. Along with their studies students also gain experience of life skills, learn how to write a CV and interview techniques. The unit is described as supplying a 'varied and inspiring timetable that motivates and challenges the students.'

School Principal Mike Conn praised Amanda for her "vision and sheer determination" in getting the project to fruition and said:

"This is the right environment for young people who have been told that they could not succeed as many who have got their GCSs a year earlier only goes to prove. The school's aim is to make sure that every single child at Bexhill High leaves properly qualified."

One of the students who is benefiting from attending the centre and took her GCSEs early is 15 year old Terie Hall. She had many difficulties during her time at the main school and said: "There were a lot of distractions from the other students in the mainstream school and it was a lot more difficult to learn as there were just too many people there. I was told that it would not be possible to pass my GCSE's but since I've been at Pathways I've taken both my maths and prep early and passed them both with A to C passes - it's an amazing place."

Terie already has her sights set on a future career as a hairdresser and on completing her high school education plans to go on to college to further her education.

Cllr Lendon himself attended Bexhill High School and looking out across the school playing fields he reflected on his time there saying, "I used to play football on those fields and I never dreamed that I would be back here one day as the town mayor. I think that Pathways is a great project and a marvellous innovation."