At New Direction, we provide a small, nurturing environment where strong, trusting relationships form the foundation of everything we do. We are committed to supporting each young person’s personal growth, wellbeing, and independence through a holistic and inclusive approach to education.
Our unique setting, based around equine therapy and interaction with animals, offers powerful opportunities for emotional development, confidence-building, and learning beyond the classroom. By combining this with a broad and balanced curriculum, we empower our students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
We believe in each student’s potential and work alongside them to build the skills, resilience, and self-belief needed to become confident, independent individuals ready to take on their next steps in life.
Welcome to New Direction
New Direction is a person-centred provision for life-long learning and education, based at Ringer Villa in Clowne, Derbyshire, for students with EHCPs. We are a unique community offering:
An independent special school for children and young people
A post-16 centre offering individualised programmes for learning-disabled adults
Our provision is set within the grounds of a small farm and equestrian facility, home to a variety of resident animals, including horses, rare Eriskay ponies, sheep, and birds. We are a close-knit community with a strong emphasis on the care of individuals—both human and animal.
This website is designed to give you a clear insight into what makes New Direction a truly unique place for growth and learning. We provide a nurturing environment for children, young people, and adults to develop personally, socially, and academically. A key feature of our approach is the integration of equine therapy into a holistic educational experience.
More information about out school can be found on the school page.
School Hours and Term Dates
We are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm during term time (please see our Term Dates page for specific details).
The school day runs from 9:00am to 3:45pm, totaling 35 hours and 45 minutes per week.
We operate on a 35.4-week school year, with one week allocated to staff training (inset days). These dates will be communicated in advance where possible to support families with planning.