Our approach to learning – Releasing Potential School

The Releasing Potential philosophy

At Releasing potential we create environments where young people feel safe yet challenged, nurturing their ability to take meaningful risks that lead to breakthroughs in social and emotional development. Our approach is built on the transformative power of community and the belief that every young person has inherent value and potential waiting to be discovered.

Our educational principles

We’ve created a unique approach to education which serves young people who haven’t been able to engage with mainstream education. This approach is applied to our curriculum and is made up of 7 principles which form the foundation for transformative learning:

Address fundamental human needs: We aim to address five essential needs – Survival, Love, Power, Freedom and Fun. Creating environments where young people feel safe, valued and motivated to engage with learning.
A relationship-centred approach: Our values of Banking Compassion and Reasoned Empathy create authentic connection, investing unconditionally in young people without expectation of immediate return.
Personalised journeys: Beginning with comprehensive assessment, each pathway is guided by an Education Health Care Plan that honours unique aspirations and challenges, ensuring truly individualised support.
Multi-dimensional support: Through small groups, 1:1 mentoring, work placements, outdoor learning and distance education, we offer varied pathways that honour different learning styles.
Experiential learning: We transcend traditional classrooms through hands-on, real-world experiences that connect academic knowledge with practical competencies, making education meaningful.
Managed risk: We create opportunities for appropriate challenge within safe boundaries, recognising that meaningful growth requires navigating difficulties to build resilience.
Flexible curriculum: Our framework balances academic subjects with essential life competencies such as resilience, communication skills, emotional intelligence and practical capabilities.

These seven principles form an integrated framework, each element strengthening the others to create a holistic approach. Together they create learning environments where young people who haven't found their place in mainstream education can discover capabilities they never knew they possessed.

Glasser's Choice Theory

At the heart of our approach lies William Glasser's Choice Theory, which recognises five fundamental human needs that drive all behaviour and learning.

Glasser’s 5 needs of learning

We believe meaningful learning emerges when these five fundamental human needs are thoughtfully addressed.

Survival

The physical component of the most basic human need

Love

The need to feel cared for and be able to care for others

Power

The need to learn and appreciate feelings of value and power

Freedom

One of the five basic needs that drive all human behaviour

Fun

The need to have fun, and seek enjoyment in what we do

Our core values

We have three core values at Releasing Potential that enable us to addresses the five fundamental needs of learning.

Banking Compassion

We invest unconditionally in young people without expectation of immediate return. Our faith in genuine human connection drives us to demonstrate compassion consistently, even when positive responses seem distant. Building trust with young people who have experienced educational trauma requires patience and unwavering positive regard.

Reasoned Empathy

We are most effective as educators when we cultivate authentic empathy while maintaining appropriate boundaries. By balancing emotional understanding with professional practice, we avoid reactions that don't serve our young people's needs. This approach ensures we remain capable of delivering high-quality support.

Managed Risk

Meaningful growth rarely happens without challenge. We create opportunities for young people to experience appropriate risk within safe boundaries, particularly for those who have struggled in mainstream education. We remain committed to finding creative ways for young people to develop resilience through carefully structured challenges.

Our approach in practice

The Releasing Potential philosophy translates into practical approaches that empower young people to:

Develop trust in themselves and others
Build resilience through appropriate challenges
Experience belonging within a supportive community
Discover capabilities they never knew they possessed
Progress at their own pace without arbitrary timelines
Contribute meaningfully to their community

Whether through outdoor education, vocational learning, therapeutic support, or academic study, our approach consistently emphasises holistic development and the creation of opportunities for young people to experience success on their own terms.

Our education programmes

Secondary School

An alternative to the narrower expectations of traditional schools. We offer bespoke mentoring to full time group provision for for students in a learning environment that offers opportunities to thrive. We offer a flexible and expanded curriculum including: Maths, English, Food Studies, Outdoor Education, PSD, Trade education.

More about our Secondary School

Outdoor Alternative Provision

Part time bespoke provision for students who are not ready for a group environment or to access the full curriculum. Alternative provision often happens off site in the community or in the outdoors!

More about Alternative Provision

Releasing Potential Post 16

For post-16 students who are not ready for a large scale college environment. Post 16 offers English, Maths, Project & Employability qualifications as well as supported work placements.

Begin their journey with Releasing Potential

Want to refer a young person to our services? We welcome enquiries from education professionals, parents, carers and local authorities about 11-18 years olds who might benefit from our personalised approach to learning and development.

Our approach