Fortune College

Since 2023, Suzi Barnett acting principal, in the absence of principal Jane Delves. Started at the college in 2010, having been a horse-trainer, breaking in horses in Spain where she also taught English as a foreign language (TEFL). Started in

Essential that students are sufficiently motivated by horses to learn the transferable skills taught. Arriving from eight local authorities, Hampshire the largest intake, young people usually having been in specialist settings or out of school with

The principal related, ‘Our young people need to work towards not going home to the “hotel of Mum and Dad”’ – parents recall how they gasped on hearing this for the first time but had the next few years to digest.

Work experience from the summer

A specialist independent college for 16 to 25 year-olds based on an Equine Facilitated Education and Therapy model. A majority of students are on the autistic spectrum, with ADHD, Prader-Willi syndrome, epilepsy, diabetes, demand-avoidance, plus

For students unable to thrive in traditional classrooms, here they learn independence, communication, literacy and numeracy through horses, then transfer these skills to their own lives. A working day starts at the main Avon Tyrell site with clear

In-house activities include arts and crafts and further equine studies.

Extracurricular activities include walks and cycles in the New Forest, swimming, gym, movies, cooking and the beach. A parent describes how at a previous college their child

Off-site sporting activities vary with the time of year and student interest, regularly including the gym, swimming, cycling, zumba and boxercise.

Five or six day-students but the majority board. More girls but always some boys and being in a minority not thought a problem by one who said having horses in common eases socialising. Main boarding at Wootten Hall Farm, a college minibus-ride away

Speech and language therapy provided two days per week, physiotherapy weekly, occupational therapy each half-term when the therapist sets and monitors programmes that staff embed throughout the days – indeed one parent remarked their son doesn’t

Social media policy means no phone use in the yards plus college has a filter which includes an alert service if access is made to unsafe sites; useful to learn here with 26 horses and 88 staff on hand. A family mentioned how the horses were used to

Students eating their lunch overlooking the indoor arena were naming and describing the characters of each of the horses being worked – we assumed them to be third-years from their comprehensive knowledge but they’d been there only

Central government ESFA funding and Element 3 high needs funding though the LA for students with Education Health and Care Plans.

Riding experience is not necessary but engagement with horses is essential at this unique and meticulously run college. Students learn through the horses, which need taking care of every day, that they also need to take similar care of themselves,