SML College College, University in Fishersgate, Brighton and Hove

Reviews

1. Rose Frederick ★★☆☆☆

   I went here for one year from 2017-18. They had just moved from the Brighton youth centre to the offices in fishersgate. We were misled on what the experience would be as when I went for a trial week they didn’t say they were moving from the centre of Brighton to an office block 40 minutes away. For six months we were there everyday with no heating. They wouldn’t even buy us electric heaters or blankets. It was an accepting place. But the educational support is pretty much non-existent. For us older children, we had to figure out and teach ourselves all of our GCSEs. Lars and Clare were amazing. But all of the other learning advisors were more interested in the younger ‘home educated’ children, not the ones just trying to get through the system. I would recommend it to younger kids, with parents who are able to support their children with full time home-schooling. But if your looking for an alternative to school, or a place to study for your GCSEs in a better environment, I would recommend you just do them yourself at home and save your self the money.

   1 year ago
2. Katherine Morton ★★★★☆

   Our son took the decision to leave mainstream education and found SML on recommendation. It has been the best decision for him. He loves the autonomy to choose what he wants to learn and be in a place where people accept each other. He has found the learning advisors very kind and inspiring and can think about things that are not in the National Curriculum like philosophy and 'Things in the World'. The school encourages each child to follow their interests, which our son has found to be motivating and it has made him so much happier! Thanks SML.

   almost 2 years ago
3. Shona Mac ★★★★★

   SMLC has been great for our home educated children. There is a strong sense of community and kids are encouraged to chart their own educational paths with support. If your child does not fit into the box of school, I would definitely recommend trying SMLC to see if its alternative model for education is a better fit.

   almost 2 years ago

1. Beata Andrews ★★★★★

   Our son moved from his secondary school and joined SML College in year 8. It was the best decision we made, he is happy and thriving in the new environment, inspired to learn and pursue his interests with a lot of support and opportunities. He loves the community and excited about going to school every single day, which is a great change from attending his mainstream secondary school. Changing schools has transformed his school life, learning experience, social life and consequently our home life and having a happy and thriving child is worth every effort.

   almost 2 years ago
2. Alexandra Harris ★★★★★

   We never knew an alternative option like this was available. Our children couldn’t be happier since attending SMLC as they now have an education that they choose to have, without the overwhelming pressures and demands that mainstream school can present. They are finally excited about learning again in a non stressful and supportive setting. There should be self managed learning schools in every city. This is the future of learning that is so very needed for an ever growing proportion of our incredible children.

   almost 2 years ago
3. Adam Ward ★★★☆☆

   Went here back in the day when it was simply S&M college. Not sure what the L stands for but in this modern world it's all the rage. Good place for a caning.

   almost 3 years ago

1. dave o donnell ★☆☆☆☆

   We looked around and met the Coordinator with a view to our home-educated autistic son joining the college. The philosophy of self-directed learning fitted with our own approach and we had high hopes. Unfortunately the flexibility and empathy directed at the children did not seem to extend to the parents. We requested to be able to stay in the room for the first few sessions to make sure he was settling. We were refused without explanation. We requested if he could start part-time to ease himself into a group learning situation as he was completely unused to it. We were refused without explanation. When I said he would get very tired at first I was told curtly that he could sleep somewhere there-something my son would never be able to do. When my wife went into the arts club room to see if our son was alright, there was only him and one other child there, she was told off by the coordinator. It was very disappointing and just the sort of thing we had encountered from mainstream schools. I still don't understand the attitude. No doubt other parents have had a different experience but this was ours. We wanted it to work but ran into the sort of inflexibility and dogmatism that we had encountered in state provision. Perplexing.

   more 6 years ago

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