The Alternative School
School summary
Small by design, The Alternative School in Accrington educates around 152 pupils across a broad 7-18 age range, offering a more intimate setting than many independents of its kind. As a non-denominational, co-educational day school, it welcomes families looking for a closely held learning environment in Lancashire. Its Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection judged the school good, with personal development also rated good and compliance requirements met. With just a single sixth-form pupil, the school's centre of gravity sits firmly in its primary and secondary years up to GCSE.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- good
- ISI personal development
- good
- Last inspected
- 5 November 2024
Teaching & academics
Pupils work towards GCSE qualifications, with the school's compact roll allowing for considerable individual attention. The ISI's good rating, alongside a good judgement for personal development, points to a settled and supportive academic culture. Families considering the sixth form should note that provision at that stage is currently minimal.
Head · Ms Kirsty Swierkowski
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
Schools nearby
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Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School
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Al Islah Girls' High School
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Islamiyah School
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Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A genuinely small independent for families who value a personal, contained environment over scale, with GCSE-focused teaching under Head Ms Kirsty Swierkowski.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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The Alternative School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.