A new alternative education provision in Milton Keynes is now operating at Ride High Equestrian Centre, offering young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) a practical, work-based route back into learning.
Aim High UK, based at the Ride High site, delivers an Alternative Education Provision (AEP) for learners aged 14 to 25 who have struggled in mainstream education due to SEND, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, medical conditions or school exclusion. The provision is now accepting referrals following the start of its first intake.
Although Aim High operates as a separate education provider, it is closely aligned with the values of the Ride High charity, which uses horses to support disadvantaged and vulnerable young people across Milton Keynes. Profits generated by the education provision help fund the charity’s wider work.
Partnership-led provision
The programme has been developed in partnership with Haddon Training, a specialist provider with more than 20 years’ experience delivering equine and animal care education. As a result, learners at Aim High can work towards Level 1 work-based horse care qualifications, alongside Functional Skills in maths and English where additional academic support is required.
The provision has been designed for learners with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who benefit from smaller groups, practical learning and flexible assessment methods. Instead of formal exams, progress is evidenced through portfolio work, including photographs, videos and creative submissions.
Practical learning in a supportive setting
Based across 37 acres of countryside in Milton Keynes, the Ride High Equestrian Centre provides a calm and structured environment that supports both learning and personal development. Learners take part in hands-on activities such as horse care, grooming, feeding, stable management and tack maintenance, while also developing confidence, resilience and employability skills.
Students can enrol on one- or two-year full-time programmes, attending three days per week over a 36-week academic year. The structure is designed to provide consistency while remaining flexible enough to meet individual needs.
Frances Murray, manager of the alternative education provision, said the aim is to create an environment where learners can succeed on their own terms. She explained that many students require additional support for SEND or SEMH needs and have found traditional school settings challenging. As a result, the programme focuses not only on qualifications and practical experience, but also on building the life skills learners need to move forward with confidence.
Meeting local demand
The launch of Aim High reflects growing demand across Milton Keynes for alternative education pathways that sit outside mainstream schooling but still offer recognised outcomes. Referrals are now open from local authorities, schools and other professionals working with SEND learners.
