A TEACHER with more than 20 years’ experience in working in pupil referral centres has started her own education centre.

Susan Anderson, 53, of Allonby, previously worked in the Gillford Centre, Carlisle, for two years before making the decision to start her own centre offering “something more specialised”.

Wizard Education Specialist Tuition, based on Wigton’s High Street - in the former Hopes Estate Agent - is primarily an alternative provision tuition service for young people who have failed to thrive in other settings including mainstream schools.

They will also offer private tuition in the evenings and weekends for a variety of ages and subjects.

Susan explained: “Some children cannot even manage in referral centres so I try to provide something different.

“What I provide is bespoke to them. I do Maths and English as standard but the rest is based around what they need to know in life, like making a bed or using a drill.

“It’s about what they are interested in - it’s designed for them. If they like cars we’ll do things about cars, if they like bikes we’d do things about bikes”

Staff at Wizard Education Specialist Tuition are all experienced in dealing with people exhibiting social emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The aim is to provide a fresh chance to leave secondary education with some appropriate accreditation and able to make a positive contribution to society.

Offering either one-to-one sessions or small group tuition, sessions will take place between 10am and 2pm but staff will be onhand between 2pm and 4pm for those who need something more specialised.

Susan will also provide private tuition on evening and weekends.

“I love working with children,” added Susan.

“I feel like there isn’t enough alternative units and a little discrete centre like this works better for them.

“I worked for the Gillford Centre for two years and was the assistant head and absolutely loved it.

“But I just felt like it was the right thing to do to leave and start up on my own.”

Susan toyed with the idea of renting some office space but then decided to take the plunge and buy the property in Wigton.

She decided that Wigton provided the best links for the centre.

“I started up in Wigton because it has good transport links.

“It’s half way between the west coast and Carlisle.

“It’s also far enough away from Workington or Carlisle that children are not going to act up and can start fresh. Brining them here takes them out of their comfort zone.”