Welcome To The Beacon Centre
The Beacon Centre (Alternative Education Behaviour Support Service) is a Pupil Referral Unit supporting children, young people and their families who, for a variety of reasons, are currently unable to access mainstream education.
We personalise our learning programmes to take into account individual needs, by offering a safe and nurturing environment with a focus on improving confidence and raising self-esteem. Whilst encouraging our students to grow, learn and make progress both academically and socially to achieve the best possible outcomes.
We believe that the provision ‘Leads the Way to a Brighter Future’ for all our pupils. We do this by offering extended learning opportunities through a more alternative curriculum which provides students with skills which equip them for life and to allow every pupil to move on successfully to the next step in their education, employment or training.
Mr D. Gray
Headteacher
What people say
" Staff at the Beacon Centre make a difference to pupils’ lives "
" Pupils receive care, guidance and support that improve their life chances "
" Pupils feel safe, both emotionally and physically "
" Bullying is not a problem at this school "
" Pupils are respectful and tolerant of each other "
" Pupils understand the school rules and feel that everyone is treated equally "
" Leaders have made significant improvements to the curriculum "
" There is now a calm, happy environment across the primary and secondary sites "
" Pupils’ personal development is a vital thread that is woven into the curriculum "
" Governance of the school is a strength "
" Staff enjoy working at the school and feel well supported by leaders "
" Safeguarding is effective "
" The curriculum explicitly teaches pupils how to keep themselves safe and prepare for life in adulthood "
" The Beacon Centre is a fabulous base with even better staffing! "
" The support, care, and teaching standards are second to none and I simply could not ask for more "
" All staff should be commended "
" Staff understand my child’s needs and are calm and patient with him "
" My son now loves going to school, he has come a long way in a few months of being at the school "
" The communication with the staff is amazing "
" Staff are friendly and supportive "
" Even when my child has a bad day, staff are there to support and talk to if any problems and listen to concerns "
Social Media
⛵🏛️ As part of their 'Sailing Through Time' topic, Elm and Fir classes enjoyed a fantastic visit to South Shields Museum to explore artefacts linked to William Wouldhave and his design of the world's first purpose-built lifeboat.
The children also discovered more about the rich history of South Shields and even left a note to remember their visit. 📝✨
It was wonderful to see the children's excitement and curiosity as they viewed real historical artefacts up close. They were exceptionally well behaved throughout the trip and impressed everyone with the thoughtful and relevant questions they asked. 👏🌟
A huge well done to all of our pupils for being such fantastic ambassadors for the school!
#SailingThroughTime #SouthShieldsMuseum #HistoryInAction #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #TeamBeacon #ProudSchool ... See MoreSee Less
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🦆🌳 As part of our exploration learning, we enjoyed a wonderful visit to North Marine Park, where our pupils took bird feed to support and interact with the local wildlife.
Our pupils were incredibly calm, patient and gentle around the birds, showing kindness and respect throughout the visit. 🐦💚
During our walk, we also met some local residents who shared fascinating facts about pigeons, including their intelligence, ability to recognise human faces and their important role during both World War I and World War II. 📚✨
The joy, curiosity and excitement shown by our pupils throughout the day was truly magical to witness. Experiences like these help bring learning to life and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Well done to everyone involved! 🌟
#explorationlearning #outdooreducation #northmarinepark #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #TeamBeacon #ProudSchool ... See MoreSee Less
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🎨✨ This term, students across both our primary and secondary sites have been exploring the fascinating world of emotions.
Each class selected an emotion and used art as a creative way to express what that emotion looks and feels like. Through thoughtful discussion, imagination and artistic skill, our students produced some truly incredible pieces of work. ❤️💙💚💛
Their creations were proudly showcased in our very own Beacon Art Gallery, allowing everyone to celebrate the hard work, creativity and individuality of our young artists.
The final results were outstanding and reflected a remarkable level of thought, effort and creativity. We couldn't be prouder of what our students achieved together.
🌟 Team Beacon at its very best! 🌟
#TwoSitesOneSchool #TeamBeacon #BeaconArtGallery #CreativeLearning #StudentSuccess #ProudSchool ... See MoreSee Less
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💚✨ On the last Friday before half term, our secondary site staff and pupils were delighted to host a special celebration event for our primary staff and pupils as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2026. ✨💚
This year's theme, 'Action', encouraged us all to think about the importance of taking action to support our own mental health, the mental health of others and the wellbeing of our wider communities. During our weekly assembly, pupils explored what positive action can look like and how small acts can make a big difference. 🌟
There was something for everyone to enjoy throughout the day, with a wide range of activities on offer, including games, Lego, mindfulness activities and the opportunity to role-play in our on-site Co-op store. 🎲🧱🧘♂️🏪
Our talented Willows class also hosted an impressive art exhibition, showcasing work they have produced throughout the year alongside artwork from every class in school, all inspired by different emotions. 🎨🖼️
To make the day even more special, everyone enjoyed drinks, snacks and lunch together at the secondary site. 🍪🥤🍽️
The highlight of the day was seeing our older pupils interacting so positively with our younger pupils—giving tours of the secondary site, helping them get refreshments and encouraging them to join in with activities and games. The kindness, confidence and sense of community on display truly reflected the very best of Team Beacon. 💙
Staff and pupils had a fantastic time, and we enjoyed the experience so much that we hope to make events like this a regular feature, bringing our entire Beacon family together to celebrate, connect and create lasting memories.
🌟 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek2026 #TeamBeacon #BeaconFamily #TwoSitesOneSchool #Community #Wellbeing #ProudSchool ... See MoreSee Less
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Year 11, we are incredibly proud of you.
Your conduct, focus and maturity throughout the exam series so far has been outstanding. You now have just two exams left, and we know you can give your very best in this final push.
📘 Wednesday 10th June
GCSE Maths Paper 3 (Calculator)
• Start time: 9.00am
• Duration: 90 minutes (finishing around 10.30am depending on your room’s start time)
• This is your last ever Maths exam — finish strong.
🔬 Friday 12th June
AQA Combined Science: Synergy Double Award – Paper 4 (Physical Science)
• Start time: 9.00am
• Finish time: 10.45am
⏰ Key Reminders
• Please arrive by 8.45am for all exams
• We will provide free breakfast each morning
• Hand all personal belongings into the locker room
• Make sure you are calm, prepared and fully exam‑ready
Your behaviour, attitude and determination have been a credit to you and to our school. Keep going — you are nearly there.
Team Beacon is behind you every step of the way. ... See MoreSee Less
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📚🏛️ As part of their learning about Gothic Literature, our Wonderful Willows students have been exploring life in Victorian Britain to gain a deeper understanding of what life was like in the late 1800s.
Each student researched a different aspect of Victorian life, from daily routines and working conditions to education and social customs. They then shared their knowledge and understanding with their peers through some truly superb pieces of work. ✨
We are incredibly proud of the effort, enthusiasm and historical insight our students have demonstrated throughout this topic. Well done, Willows! 👏⭐
#wonderfulwillows #GothicLiterature #victorianhistory #ProudSchool #LearningJourney ... See MoreSee Less
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