Alternative Education

Alternative Education and Home Education Support in Leicester

Beyond Mainstream: Alternative Education and Home-Schooling Support at Raedan Institute

The British education system, while serving millions of children effectively, does not suit every learner. Figures from the Department for Education show that more families are choosing another route every year: around 126,000 children were being educated at home in England in autumn 2025, up from 111,700 a year earlier (DfE, 2026). This growth reflects not rejection of education’s value but recognition that mainstream schooling—with its standardised curricula, large class sizes, rigid structures, and one-size-fits-all approaches—does not always meet the diverse learning needs and individual circumstances that characterise real children and families.

At Raedan Institute, our Alternative Education and Home-Schooling provision recognises that educational excellence can be achieved through multiple pathways. We provide comprehensive support for families choosing home education, supplementary education strengthening mainstream provision, and alternative pathways for students who have experienced school breakdown, exclusion, or persistent difficulties in conventional settings. Our approach is grounded in a fundamental belief: every child deserves education that honours their uniqueness, develops their potential, and prepares them for fulfilling futures—whether delivered in schools, homes, or community settings.

As educational philosopher Sir Ken Robinson eloquently argued, “We have sold ourselves into a fast-food model of education, and it’s impoverishing our spirit and our energies as much as fast food is depleting our physical bodies” (Robinson, 2010). Our alternative provision represents a commitment to educational approaches that nourish rather than standardise, that celebrate diversity rather than enforce conformity, and that recognise that different learners thrive in different environments with different pedagogical approaches.

At a glance

Who it is for	Learners aged 5 and above, from Key Stage 1 to A-level. Adult learners are welcome too.
Subjects	English, Maths and Science. Maths and Science are taught together with IT skills in our Tech Studies programme.
When	Monday to Wednesday, 9:30am to 1:30pm, term time only
Where	2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA
Fees	From £5 per hour, subject to our terms and conditions
Exams	AQA approved examination centre, centre number 25369

Who we help

Home-educating families

You stay in charge of your child’s education. We give you specialist subject teaching, a weekly structure, other children to learn alongside, and a route to sit formal exams when the time comes. If you are new to home education, start with our guides: Home Education and the Law and Planning Your Home Education.

Pupils referred by schools and local authorities

We take part-time placements for pupils who need a smaller, calmer setting for a period of time, including pupils who have experienced school breakdown, suspension or persistent difficulties in school. Full details for commissioners are here: Alternative Provision for Schools and Local Authorities.

Pupils who need extra tuition

Some learners come to us part-time to catch up, keep up or get ahead in English, Maths and Science. We also run Saturday tuition in English, Maths and Science at all levels. Saturday tuition and courses

Resit students and private candidates

If you need to resit GCSE English or Maths, or you are studying independently and need a centre to sit your exams, we can teach you, enter you and host your exams under one roof.

Adult learners

It is never too late to get the qualification you missed. Adults are welcome to join us for English, Maths and Science.

Raedan Institute Supplementary Education Services: Structured Excellence

Programme Structure and Schedule

Our supplementary education operates Monday through Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, in term time, providing structured learning opportunities for students requiring additional support beyond mainstream provision or those being home educated who seek expert instruction in core subjects. This carefully designed schedule offers consistency and routine while maintaining flexibility for families managing their own educational programmes.

The programme focuses on three essential areas:

Literacy and English: Comprehensive literacy instruction addressing reading comprehension, written composition, grammar and punctuation, vocabulary development, literary analysis, and examination preparation. Our evidence-based approach draws on the Simple View of Reading framework and structured literacy methodologies (Gough & Tunmer, 1986).

Technology Studies (Tech Studies): Maths, Science and IT skills: Tech Studies is our combined programme. It brings together mathematics, science and practical IT skills, so that learners see how the three connect instead of meeting them as separate boxes. Students work towards GCSE and A-level Mathematics and Science.

Mathematics: Secure number skills first, then reasoning and problem solving, building through Key Stages 1 to 4 to GCSE and on to A-level. Learners are assessed when they join, so that teaching starts from what they actually know rather than from their age. We also provide functional skills course and exam at the centre.
Science: Biology, chemistry and physics from primary level to GCSE and A-level, with practical work in our own science prep lab. We deliver all 3 sciences at A Levels.
IT skills: Digital literacy appropriate for the 21st century, covering confident everyday use of computers and software, information literacy and online research skills, cybersecurity and digital citizenship, and practical applications of technology across disciplines. IT is taught as practical skills to support learning in every subject. It is not a computing course and does not lead to a separate qualification.

Sports and Physical Education: Physical development and wellbeing through structured sports activities including football, basketball, and other team sports, individual fitness, and movement skills, understanding of health, nutrition, and active lifestyles, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship values, and competitive opportunities appropriate to skill levels. The importance of physical activity for cognitive function, mental health, and academic achievement is well-documented (Hillman et al., 2008). Sports sessions run on Wednesdays, with separate sessions for girls and boys, and on Saturday mornings through our Raedan FC and Sports Programme.

Our full educational philosophy, and the research behind it, is set out here: Our Educational Approach.

Our results

In summer 2026, every one of our GCSE candidates passed English and Maths. They had joined us working at grades 1 to 2.

We are a small centre and our cohorts are small. That is the point: every learner is known by name, and nobody gets lost at the back.

Raedan Institute Home Education Support Services

We provide comprehensive support addressing every aspect of successful home education:

Educational Planning and Guidance

Expert consultation helping families develop suitable educational programmes, understand legal requirements and local authority relationships, access appropriate resources and materials, and adapt approaches as children develop.

Subject Teaching and Tutoring

Specialist instruction in subjects where parents desire expert support, particularly in secondary years when subject complexity increases. Our structured supplementary education sessions (Monday-Wednesday, 9:30 AM-1:30 PM) provide this support in English and in Tech Studies (Maths, Science and IT skills).

Examination Access

As an AQA approved examination centre (centre number 25369), we facilitate access to GCSEs and A-levels, providing examination venues, invigilation, non-examined assessment supervision where we are able to offer it, and preparation support. This removes a significant barrier home-educating families otherwise face.

Social and Enrichment Activities

Regular opportunities for peer interaction through group learning, sports activities, creative workshops, field trips, and social events, addressing socialisation while providing educational enrichment.

Community and Connection

Building a supportive community where home-educating families connect, share experiences, exchange resources and advice, and support one another’s educational journeys. Many of our parents also come along to our Tuesday coffee mornings.

Special educational needs and EHCPs

We want to be honest with families. Raedan Institute is a part-time teaching centre. We are not a registered independent school and we are not a specialist SEND setting. For that reason we are not able to accept pupils who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and we cannot deliver the provision set out in one.

If your child does not have an EHCP but has additional needs, please tell us when you enquire. We will talk it through with you, make reasonable adjustments where we can, and be straight with you about whether we are the right place.

How to enrol

Get in touch by phone, email or the contact form.
Visit the centre, meet the team and see the classrooms.
Your child completes a short assessment so we can place them in the right group.
Complete the application form and bring proof of identity for the student.
Pay the deposit and book fee to secure the place.
Start learning.

We do not offer trial sessions, so the visit and assessment are your chance to see how we work and ask us anything. Places are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. We welcome families from across Leicester and Leicestershire.

Fees

Fees start from £5 per hour, subject to our terms and conditions. A deposit and a book fee are payable when you enrol. Tuition fees are then spread across 12 monthly payments.

As a charity, we keep our fees as low as we can so that cost is not the reason a child misses out.

Exams at Raedan Institute

We are an AQA approved examination centre (centre number 25369). Our own students and private candidates can sit GCSEs and A-levels with us. Tech Studies students are entered for GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Science under those titles; IT skills are not examined.

November 2026: GCSE English Language and Maths resits. The entry deadline is in early October 2026, so please contact us straight away.
Summer 2027: full exam series. Entries close early in 2027.

Home education and the law

Parents in England have a legal right to educate their children at home. The law is changing: the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 provides for local authority registers of children not in school, and for council consent before some children can be taken off a school roll. These measures are not yet in force, but families should be ready for them. Our plain-English guide explains your rights and how to take your child off the school roll: Home Education and the Law.

Frequently asked questions

Is Raedan Institute a school?

No. We are a registered charity offering part-time teaching, up to 12 hours a week. We are not a registered school and we do not provide full-time education.

Can my child come to you as well as going to school?

Yes. Some learners join us part-time alongside school, and we also run Saturday tuition.

Can home-educated children sit GCSEs with you?

Yes. We are an AQA approved examination centre and we accept private candidates.

How much does it cost?

Fees start from £5 per hour, subject to our terms and conditions. A deposit and book fee are payable on enrolment, and tuition fees are spread across 12 monthly payments.

Do you offer a trial session?

No. Instead, we invite every family to visit and we assess each child before they start, so you can be confident it is the right fit.

Do you take pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan?

No. We are a part-time centre, not a registered school or a specialist SEND setting, so we cannot deliver the provision in an EHCP. If your child has additional needs but no EHCP, please talk to us.

What is Tech Studies?

Tech Studies is our name for our combined Maths, Science and IT skills programme. Students are taught how the three connect and are entered for GCSE and A-level Mathematics and Science. IT is taught as practical skills only and is not a separate qualification.

What ages do you teach?

From age five (Key Stage 1) up to A-level. Adult learners are welcome too.

Conclusion: Education Honouring Every Child

Alternative education is not second-best but a legitimate pathway recognising that children are wonderfully diverse, with varied needs, interests, abilities, and circumstances defying standardisation. When children receive education honouring their uniqueness while providing appropriate challenge, support, and high expectations, they flourish academically, socially, and personally.

Raedan Institute’s alternative education and home-schooling provision exists so that every child can access education enabling them to reach their full potential, regardless of whether mainstream schooling suits their needs. We believe education should serve children, not vice versa, and that educational excellence is achievable through multiple pathways when families receive appropriate support, guidance, and resources.

Our transformational educational philosophy—developing creative, analytical, resolute, inquisitive, empathetic, globally aware, ethical, healthy, and digitally literate individuals—prepares students not merely for examinations but for meaningful lives as engaged citizens contributing to a just, sustainable, compassionate world.

We invite families to explore whether our alternative education provision might suit your circumstances. Education is too important to persist with approaches that aren’t working. There are alternatives, and we’re here to help you find your way through them successfully.

Discover alternative education possibilities:

Phone: 07725 974 831
Email: info@raedan-institute.co.uk
Address: 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA

Supplementary Education Schedule:

Monday – Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, term time
Subjects: Literacy/English, Technology Studies (Maths, Science and IT skills), Sports

Sources

Department for Education (2026) Elective home education: autumn term 2025/26. London: DfE.
Gough, P.B. and Tunmer, W.E. (1986) ‘Decoding, reading, and reading disability’, Remedial and Special Education, 7(1), pp. 6–10.
Hillman, C.H., Erickson, K.I. and Kramer, A.F. (2008) ‘Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition’, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9, pp. 58–65.
Robinson, K. (2010) Bring on the learning revolution! TED talk, February 2010.