About The Rowans
At The Rowans AP Academy, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of the challenges they may have faced. Through a trauma-informed approach, positive relationships, and our core values of Kindness, Commitment and Resilience, we support pupils to re-engage with education, develop confidence and take positive steps towards a successful future.
We work with young people whose needs cannot currently be met within a mainstream setting, often due to social, emotional or behavioural challenges, significant life events, or periods of disrupted education. Every pupil's journey is unique, and the support they receive at The Rowans is carefully tailored to their individual needs, strengths and aspirations.
Our aim is simple: to help young people thrive and succeed. We provide a high-quality education alongside personalised support, enabling pupils to achieve meaningful qualifications, develop essential life skills and successfully progress to their chosen post-16 pathways. We have high expectations for every learner and believe that, with the right support, every young person can fulfil their potential.
Learning is at the heart of everything we do. By creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment, we help pupils develop the confidence to overcome barriers, embrace new opportunities and become successful, independent adults.
A Truly Inclusive Community
At The Rowans, inclusion is more than a principle; it is the foundation of our school community. We believe that alternative does not equal inferior, and we place pupils at the centre of everything we do. We work closely with families, previous schools and external agencies in order to provide holistic support for every pupil we care for.
Our curriculum is carefully designed to meet the diverse needs of our learners. Through a combination of an engaging academic offer, vocational learning, targeted interventions and enriching experiences, we ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to achieve success, discover their strengths and develop a love of learning. We provide an education that is responsive, flexible and ambitious, and tailor learning to each pupil's individual needs while maintaining a commitment to excellence. Our goal is to equip every young person with the knowledge, qualifications, confidence and character they need to improve their life chances and build a successful future.
Every pupil's journey may look different, but we share the same ambition for all: that they leave The Rowans with the skills, qualifications and self-belief to move forward positively and achieve their full potential.
We also recognise that education is about far more than qualifications alone. Alongside academic achievement, we are committed to supporting pupils' personal, social and emotional development through access to our hidden curriculum. We help young people build resilience, self-belief and the skills they need to make positive choices which will impact their own lives, and help them to contribute meaningfully to society.
As a school, we celebrate diversity and actively promote respect, tolerance and understanding. We are proud to be part of a wider community and encourage our pupils to recognise the positive impact they can have on the world around them. Through restorative approaches, community engagement and meaningful experiences, pupils learn the importance of responsibility, citizenship and belonging.
Our Values and Vision
At The Rowans AP Academy, our values are part of everything we do. Developed in partnership with our staff and pupils, they shape our culture, guide our decisions and define the support and opportunities we provide for every young person.
Inspiring Change for a Brighter Future
We believe that every pupil has the capacity to grow, achieve and succeed. Our role is to help young people recognise their strengths, overcome barriers and develop the confidence to make positive choices for their future.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. – Gandhi
Learning Without Limits
Every learner deserves access to an ambitious, engaging and meaningful education. We remove barriers to learning, celebrate individual strengths and create opportunities for all pupils to discover what they are capable of achieving. -
Every student can succeed, but not on the same day in the same way. – William G. Spady
Leading with Kindness, Growing with Commitment & Rising with Resilience
Our core values underpin daily life at The Rowans. Through kindness, we build strong relationships and a sense of belonging. Through commitment, we encourage pupils to take ownership of their learning and personal development. Through resilience, we support young people to overcome challenges and persevere when things become difficult.
“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.”― Dieter F. Uchtdorf
We See You, We Hear You, We Are With You
Every young person who joins The Rowans has their own story, experiences and aspirations. We take time to understand each individual, listen to their voice and provide the support they need to feel safe, valued and successful.
We must support each other and empathise with each other because each of us is more alike than we are unalike." — Maya Angelou
Admissions at The Rowans
The Rowans is an Alternative Provision. Unlike mainstream schools, pupils do not apply for a place at The Rowans through the usual school admissions process. All places at The Rowans are commissioned through Medway Council, in accordance with the Local Authority’s arrangements for Alternative Provision.
This means that parents and carers cannot make a casual or in-year application directly to The Rowans for a school place. Pupils are referred to, and places are commissioned at, The Rowans through the appropriate Local Authority processes.
As admission to The Rowans is not through the standard school admissions process, there is no right of appeal against admission to The Rowans and the school does not operate an admissions appeals process.
The Rowans has a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 65 pupils, across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
Parents and carers who believe that Alternative Provision may be appropriate for their child should discuss this with their child’s current school and/or the relevant team at Medway Council.
The Rowans is proud of the recognition we have received, reflecting our commitment to providing exceptional support, education and opportunities for young people:
Outstanding Ofsted judgement (2015)- Pearson National Outstanding Team of the Year Gold Award (2017)
- National Safeguarding Initiative Award (2020)
- Kent Literacy Award (2020)
- Covid-19 Safeguarding award (2020)
- AcSEED Award for Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support (2021)
- Outstanding PSHE Provision Award (2021)
- Outstanding in all Ofsted categories (2021)
- Silver ‘Rights Respecting School’ Award (2021)
- Carnegie Centre of Excellence ‘School Mental Health Award’ (2023)
- Bronze ‘A Better Medway Public Health Award’ (2023)
- Silver ‘A Better Medway Schools’ Award (2024)
- Medway Parent Carer Forum SEND Award (2024)
- Rated ‘Strong Standard’ across all areas in Ofsted inspection (2025)
- Headteacher of the Year award (2026)