About
About Ely Classrooms
Ely Classrooms is an independent Alternative Provision in Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, providing education for young people aged 11–16 and post-16 who need something different from mainstream school.
We particularly support autistic young people and pupils with other special educational needs. Many of the young people who come to us have found that a conventional school environment, or the pressures associated with it, have become a barrier to learning.
Our approach is deliberately low-pressure and low-demand. We do not start with a set of targets and try to make a young person fit them. We get to know the pupil, find out what they can engage with and build their education from there. If one approach isn’t working, we try another.
That does not mean lowering academic expectations. Pupils can study towards GCSEs, Functional Skills and other recognised qualifications, alongside practical and creative subjects. For some, the first step may simply be becoming comfortable with learning again.
Supporting autistic young people
Our environment and the way we work are being developed particularly with autistic young people in mind. Teaching takes place in very small groups, with 1:1 teaching where needed, and pupils have individual timetables rather than being expected to fit into a standard programme. A dedicated low-sensory breakout room provides a calm space away from teaching when needed.
Our staff have undertaken specialist training with the National Autistic Society, and Ely Classrooms will be working towards National Autistic Society accreditation. Counselling and other specialist support are also available where required.
Aspiration. Ambition. Achievement.
These three words have been at the heart of Ely Classrooms from the beginning.
We want young people to see possibilities for their future. Ambition does not have to mean following the same route as everybody else, and achievement does not look the same for every pupil. It might mean gaining GCSE or Functional Skills qualifications, developing practical skills, becoming more independent or simply being able to engage with education again.
We can be ambitious for a young person without making education another source of pressure.
Looking for private tuition?
Ely Classrooms no longer provides private after-school tuition. If you are looking for a private tutor, we are happy to recommend tutors we know. Please contact us for details.
Part of Haddenham
Ely Classrooms has been based in Haddenham since 2023.
We use facilities within the village for sport, outdoor learning, creative work and practical activities, allowing us to offer a wider range of opportunities while remaining a deliberately small setting.
We are expanding our Alternative Provision with an additional building across the road from our existing premises. We also plan to become an approved examination centre and to apply for registration as an independent special school.
Our team
Allison founded Ely Classrooms in 2023. She has more than twenty years' experience in education, including senior leadership roles in independent schools.
Before founding Ely Classrooms, Allison was Head of English and Faculty Chair at Stowe School, where she worked across five academic departments. She was previously Head of English at Abbot's Hill School and has taught at St Albans School, Watford Grammar School for Girls and Haberdashers' Aske's.
Allison holds an MPhil in English Literature from the University of Oxford and Qualified Teacher Status through the University of Cambridge. She has also worked as an examiner and moderator for AQA and OCR. Before entering education, she was a BBC Senior Broadcast Journalist.
Allison has always found it easy to connect with young people. Her pupils often tell her that English finally makes sense to them – and there’s usually plenty of laughter in the process.
Hannah is an experienced teacher with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies and a CELTA teaching qualification. She has taught in the UK and overseas and is the founder of LAMDA for Life, where she teaches acting, public speaking and verse and prose. She has experience working with young people with a range of SEND.
At Ely Classrooms, Hannah teaches KS3 English and works across art, drama, music, creative writing and gardening.
Hannah is our creative all-rounder, but her art lessons are a particular favourite. They’re relaxed and low-key, with plenty of drawing for the sheer enjoyment of it, while pupils pick up real techniques and skills along the way.
Maddie is a BADTH and HCPC registered Dramatherapist with six years' experience as a therapist, including four years working within NHS CAMHS.
She works with young people with a wide range of communication styles, learning needs and neurocognitive profiles. Her approach is trauma-informed and person-centred, using dramatherapy and creative approaches alongside her wider clinical experience.
At Ely Classrooms, Maddie provides therapeutic and wellbeing support as part of the wider provision.
Maddie brings a warm, engaging and creative approach to her work, using play and creative activities to help young people engage with therapy in ways that feel natural to them.
Caroline is an experienced English teacher with many years of classroom experience teaching GCSE English Language and English Literature.
She specialises in adapting teaching to individual learning needs and helping pupils build confidence in reading, writing and communication. At Ely Classrooms, Caroline provides 1:1 and small-group English teaching and supports pupils working towards recognised qualifications.
Caroline is horse-mad, which gives her an immediate connection with quite a few of our pupils. She’ll happily build an English lesson around whatever a young person is interested in if that’s what gets them reading and writing.
Joe has more than five years’ experience supporting young people with SEND and SEMH needs. Before joining Ely Classrooms, he worked at The Harbour School, a specialist school in Wilburton, where he was Secondary Maths Lead.
Joe holds a BSc (Hons) in Sport, Fitness and Coaching from the Open University and is Ely Classrooms’ SENCo.
Joe has particular experience in re-engaging young people who have struggled with conventional approaches to education. He is experienced in using adaptive teaching techniques and building strong relationships to find another way in when something isn’t working.
Helen is a qualified and highly experienced Geography teacher who works four days a week at King’s Ely and is available to teach Geography at Ely Classrooms when pupils choose to study it. She also has extensive experience of running environmental activities and clubs which we are hoping to bring to Ely Classrooms.
A keen triathlete, Helen loves being outdoors and brings that enthusiasm into her teaching. She particularly enjoys the practical side of Geography and getting pupils out of the classroom for fieldwork and trips.
Katy teaches Science and Mathematics and has many years' experience as a tutor, teaching assistant and teacher, including A Level teaching.
She holds a first-class Master's degree in Chemistry and previously worked as a research chemist at the University of Cambridge. Katy is also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and a member of the Project Qualifications Team.
Katy is endlessly enthusiastic about science and always ready to turn a lesson into a practical. Her enthusiasm rubs off: even pupils who arrive convinced that science isn’t for them can end up loving it.
Maxine has been with Ely Classrooms from the beginning and is often the first person pupils, parents and professionals meet. She manages the day-to-day administration of the provision and also supports pupils using the low-sensory breakout room.
Maxine is the person pupils stop for a chat with between lessons. She’s warm, funny and easy to talk to, and is also a familiar face around Haddenham through amateur dramatics.
Callie and Ivy
Callie and Ivy are Allison’s spaniels and come into Ely Classrooms from time to time.
We’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join us!
Be the teacher you want to be at Ely Classrooms.
Think of teaching and on a bad day, you might envisage thirty bored faces looking at you, the floor and the clock, with evenings spent facing piles of marking.
At Ely Classrooms, we have a different model. You may be teaching a group of up to four students or offering one-to-one tuition in your specialist subject. Being an approved Alternative Provision provider in Cambridgeshire you will be supporting students whose needs are not met in mainstream settings. All provision is delivered during term time.
One-to-one or small group teaching is offered across subjects from Year 7 through to Post-16, by arrangement with the tutor. We are always keen to hear from Secondary Maths and English specialists.
