Springwell Learning Community

Two Schools - One Community

Springwell Learning Community is the umbrella name for Springwell Special Academy and Springwell Alternative Academy.  Springwell Special Academy provides cross-phase education for Barnsley children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Springwell Alternative Academy works in partnership with local primary and secondary schools to provide Day 6 provision.

Both of these schools are part of the Barnsley and Kirklees Special Provision Partnership, formed through additional collaboration of Greenacre School, Joseph Norton Academy and Springwell Learning Community.  

At Springwell, our full time staff of around 100 is dedicated to ensuring that every pupil can settle quickly and is supported to make good progress in line with our vision and mission.

Both academies are the same as any other in that we have high expectations of our pupils. We build a secure and happy atmosphere in which pupils can learn effectively, we support pupils to access a broad range of subjects and qualifications, including GCSEs and we provide opportunities and facilities for pupils to develop special interests and talents through a range of extra-curricular activities.

However, we are different to other academies in that places at our special school are accessed via the SEND consultation process and places at our alternative academy are accessed via Fair Access.

Springwell Learning Community is a specialist provision for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.  A number of our pupils have secondary needs including difficulties with their communication and learning.