About

At the beginning of 2023, Adele Lord-Laverick and Gorgi Gowthorpe (the proprietors) opened an Alternative Provision in York, "Teach Me Happy." The provision grew from strength to strength, building a good local reputation for meeting the needs of children with SEND and SEMH. During 2024, the provision also opened their registered riding centre, giving their provision children the opportunity to learn how to ride horses as part of their curriculum offer.

Lord Gowthorpe's is the next step of the journey, as both Gorgi and Adele focus on delivering quality full-time education to secondary-aged children in a nurturing, understanding and calm environment. With over 7 years of teaching in mainstream environments and personal experience of children with childhood trauma, autism, ADHD and other SPLD and those with PDA profiles, the school will be a safe space for students with bespoke, individualised curriculums created to help all children achieve their academic and personal goals.

Our students are mainly children with high-anxiety and those who struggle to attend mainstream classrooms due to SEND / SEMH. Many of our children also have a love for horses and/or the outdoors with a curriculum supporting horse-riding, horse and land based skills.

Mission Statement

Lord Gowthorpe’s educational philosophy emphasises the holistic development of students, fostering not just academic excellence but also personal growth and character building. By prioritising life skills and character strengths, the school aims to equip its students with the confidence and resilience needed to navigate the complexities of life beyond the classroom. This commitment to whole-person education is reflected in the school's inclusive community, which values each individual and celebrates their unique talents and contributions. Through a combination of academic rigor, extracurricular opportunities, and supportive relationships, Lord Gowthorpe’s endeavours to prepare students not only for success but also for lives of meaning and fulfilment.