Spartans Alternative School: Building a bridge of trust

Abstract

Spartans Alternative School is an education project based within the Spartans Community Football Academy. Operating in an area of multiple deprivation in North Edinburgh, the school offers part time alternative education provision for 14–16 year olds at risk of exclusion and/or under achieving. This paper explores how the alternative school has met the complex needs of young people who have suffered or are suffering from adverse childhood experiences. The ethos of Spartans, and the Alternative School, is to support young people in a holistic way to achieve the very best version of themselves. The students are supported by a team of staff who have chosen to focus their training on being youth work led, trauma informed and attachment aware rather than focused on the narrow and inappropriate parameters associated with aspects of ACEs-informed practice.