Epinay Business and Enterprise School

The school serves children and young people aged 4–18 with a wide range of special educational and complex needs.

“Epinay Business and Enterprise School is a Co-operative Trust School which caters for up to 225 children and young people from 4-18 years of age with a wide range of special educational and complex needs.”

The school provides for mild to moderate learning difficulties.

“The school provides provision for children and young people with mild to moderate learning difficulties.”

The wellbeing team includes therapists, rebound trainers and mental health champions.

“Our wellbeing team has vast experience of working with students with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, including a play therapist, music therapist, rebound trainer and mental health champions.”

PITSTOP provides school-based mentoring and individual sessions for pupils and young adults needing extra support.

“PITSTOP offers school based mentoring for all aged pupils and young adults who require extra support in dealing with any issues that may arise from home/school, 1:1 sessions are provided in a safe, quiet environment with privacy and assurance from trained staff to talk through and manage their concerns.”

The curriculum includes BTEC, NOCN, City & Guilds, NVQ and other vocational or technical qualifications.

“Students in Phase 4 and 5 access a range of qualifications including Entry Level Certificates, Btec awards, NOCN qualifications, City & Guilds qualifications and Level 1 and 2 awards and certificate.”

The community café and training kitchen offer NVQ-standard training.

“Epinay Community Cafe, training kitchen (offering NVQ standard training)”

Personal-development provision includes external providers and activities such as bushcraft, outdoor learning, swimming and beach school.

“Students access a weekly personal development afternoon with both staff and external providers. Examples include bushcraft, outdoor learning, swimming, beach school and enterprise.”

The school has established work experience and a vocational placement programme at Key Stage 5.

“A successful work experience programme has been established at Epinay as well as a high acclaimed vocational placement programme at Key Stage 5.”

The school aims to be a safe, inclusive centre of excellence where learners pursue challenging targets and develop confidence, independence, and readiness for adulthood.

“As a Co-operative School we aim to create a safe and inclusive centre of excellence by providing a stimulating environment where learners achieve challenging and inspirational targets in order to develop as happy, confident and independent learners who are prepared for adulthood.”

The school emphasizes co-operative values including equality, solidarity, social responsibility, and caring for others.

“The School will place an emphasis on the Co-operative values: - self-help - self-responsibility - democracy - equality - equity - solidarity - honesty - openness - social responsibility - caring for others”

The sixth form received additional classrooms in a newly accessible part of the existing site, described as a mature learning environment.

“This year our sixth form has been given additional classroom spaces ‘through the wall’ on our current site. New doors have been installed allowing us to use a part of the building that wasn’t used, the space is a very grown up learning environment.”

The school provides education for young people through age 18, with a dedicated 16–18 provision for internal and external students.

“16-18 provision caters for students transitioning from Phase 4 from either the main cohort groups or life skills provision, other places can be given to external students from around the borough.”

Admissions are arranged by the Local Authority's SEND department, in consultation with school leadership and governors, following an assessment of need.

“Pupils are admitted to Epinay School following an assessment of need by the Local Authority. All admissions to the school are made in consultation with the Head Teacher and the Governing Board. Arrangements are made by the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Department of the Local Authority.”

A Connexions adviser supports Epinay students to identify career aspirations and plan meaningful transitions toward their goals.

“Since 2019, I have been given the opportunity to work Epinay School to support young people to identify their career aspirations and plan meaningful transitions to help achieve these goals.”

Students progress to post-18 education, training and employment through visits and bespoke transition packages.

“Epinay students access a range of post 18 destinations and we are proud of our destination figures for leavers. Students visit all appropriate destinations for education, training and employment and with bespoke transition packages all students are able identify positive destinations for their next steps.”

In 2023, 78.95% met or exceeded maths targets, 92.66% met or exceeded reading targets and 54.13% met or exceeded writing targets.

“- 78.95% of pupils met or exceeded their maths targets - 92.66% of pupils met or exceeded their reading targets - 54.13% of pupils met or exceeded their writing targets”

In 2025, 86% of pupils met or exceeded their writing targets.

“- 86% of pupils met or exceeded their writing targets”