I am proud and honoured to be Principal of The Rowans, a provision where every stakeholder works together with enthusiasm and purpose to ensure success for all.
The Rowans AP Academy is a provision which enables young people to change the direction of their lives.
Through a trauma-informed approach, positive relationships, and our core values of kindness, commitment, and resilience, pupils re-engage with learning and take ownership of their choices.
We support pupils who need an alternative to mainstream education, often due to significant challenges or traumatic experiences and need a period of time in an alternative provision. The length of stay at The Rowans for pupils is dependent upon their individual pathway.
The Rowans offer alternative provision with a firm focus on supporting, engaging and raising the aspirations of every pupil. All pupils work towards achieving meaningful qualifications that will lead to relevant next steps and post-16 pathway. It is important that all pupils understand the importance of making a positive contribution to their community.
We believe that all children have the potential to become successful adults. Strong and healthy relationships with the pupils and with each other mean that staff really know the pupils and their needs and can ensure success is achieved by providing exactly the right support. Learning has always been and continues to be placed at the heart of The Rowans and all that we do and is key to the success of all our pupils.
Our bespoke curriculum combines academic learning, tailored interventions, and enrichment opportunities, ensuring every pupil experiences success and makes meaningful progress. Strong relationships are at the heart of our work, allowing us to provide exactly the right support for each child.
In addition to our secondary provision, I am proud of the Primary SEMH Special Educational Needs Provision. This is a purpose-built, therapeutic setting for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) whose primary need is Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH). Established in 2023, this nurturing environment combines therapeutic input with academic learning, providing early intervention and holistic support for up to 30 pupils. It serves as a precursor to The Beeches Free School, which is currently in development.
Both provisions share a highly skilled and dedicated team, creating a family atmosphere where pupils, staff, and families feel a strong sense of belonging. While each setting has its own tailored curriculum and operational model, we work in close alignment under a shared ethos: “Inspiring Change for a Brighter Future.”
We offer a truly inclusive school, where the pupils’ needs come first. We work hard to offer holistic support to families, encouraging them to have the confidence to make better-informed choices and work together with agencies and us, to make a real difference in their lives. Due to the vulnerabilities of our pupils and their families, safeguarding expectations and practices are at the highest level and are regularly reviewed to maintain best practice.
As part of The Howard Academy Trust, we embrace collaboration and system leadership, influencing practice across specialist and mainstream contexts. Our mantra of “We see you, we hear you, we are with you” underpins everything we do, ensuring learning is without limits and every child has the opportunity to thrive.
This website will provide you with a wealth of information, however, it is no substitute for a visit to our school. I welcome you to visit our exceptional school and talk to pupils and staff. Please email for further information or to arrange a visit fiona.may@therowansap.co.uk
Fiona May
Principal