Chessbrook is an exceptionally successful organisation which proudly serves its family of schools within South West Hertfordshire, providing support to approximately 1,000 local children, young people and families each year.

Welcome to Chessbrook ESC: Empowering Schools and Families in South West Hertfordshire.

At Chessbrook, we are dedicated to fostering success and providing exceptional support to our network of schools and families across South West Hertfordshire. Each year, we proudly serve around 1,400 children and young people by working together with their families, guiding them all towards brighter futures.

Our core values—Courage, Pride, and Resilience (CPR)—are the foundation of everything we do. Many students join us with negative educational experiences, feelings of rejection, and a disconnection from learning. Through our CPR values, students build confidence, capability, and perseverance, reigniting their passion for education.

In March 2022, the government's green paper on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision recognised Chessbrook's outstanding contributions to students, families, and schools. Our role in developing the Alternative Provision Quality Toolkit highlighted our exceptional practices, showcasing us as a notable case study.

Following this recognition, we were invited to Westminster to share our insights on reducing permanent exclusions through early intervention. The CEO of a leading Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust expressed his intention to adopt the 'Chessbrook model' across his schools, underscoring the excellence of our approach.

Chessbrook offers timely, tailored support, enabling most students to continue their education in mainstream schools. For those with more complex needs, we provide an ambitious and personalised curriculum at our centre.

Our high level of pastoral care includes assigning each student a dedicated Personal Learning Mentor to support them throughout their time at Chessbrook. We maintain exceptionally high standards and expectations, committed to educating, challenging, and inspiring our young people to achieve their aspirations.

Our motivated and expertly trained staff work diligently to identify and address gaps in students' development and learning, ensuring every student receives the support they need from the moment they arrive. Families immediately experience the warmth and robust support network we offer.

Our goal is for all students to attain the qualifications and experiences necessary to progress to the next stage of their educational journey and into adulthood.

To learn more about what we offer, please explore our website or arrange a visit.

Steve McShannon  

Executive Headteacher