SCHOOL just isn't the right place for some people. The endless grind of lessons, being told what to do by teachers and not thinking that it serves any purpose are feelings which are probably common to most students.

But while the majority put their head down and get on with it, it is too much for some teenagers and they simply stop going.

They do not understand it at the time, but dropping out of school can be little more than a ticket to the dole office and a future without prospects.

But dropping out of school need not be the end of the world, as the Closer to Home project proves.

Based at the Park Youth and Sports Centre, it has just completed its first year and has been a big success.

It was set up in September 2001 to give young people who had stopped going to school an alternative and prevent them from reaching 16 years old without qualifications or direction.

The facts speak for themselves. All of the youngsters featured on these pages today have increased their attendance massively, with Michelle Ball going from 28 per cent attendance at school to 87.9 per cent at the scheme.

Matthew Parmenter, even managed a 100 per cent attendance record in his final term there in spite of attending little more than half of that time when at school.

Children are referred to it by Swindon Council's Education Welfare Officers, and it is an alternative to mainstream school.

Aimed primarily at pupils about to start year 11, one of the major reasons it was started up was the controversial closure of Oakfield School, which meant pupils going to Dorcan or Churchfields.

Some pupils felt angry about the way the school had been closed and the project provided them with a space to discuss their feelings. Some even refused to go to Dorcan or Churchfields.

Although it is more informal than school, the youngsters still work to a timetable and study for GCSEs in key subjects such as English and maths.

While Closer to Home is staffed by youth workers, teachers such as Churchfields assistant head Val Patterson come in to take lessons.

Swindon College is keen to get involved and help the youngsters train for further qualifications.

Closer to Home is similar to the successful Inclusion Unit scheme at Churchfields School, featured in the Advertiser in June.

In the Inclusion Unit year 11 pupils who had struggled in mainstream education were given specialist tuition in their own room.

This project is similar, but these children do not even have to go to mainstream schools.

A highlight of the year has been the two residential trips, to London and Disneyland Paris which gave the youngsters something to aim for.

They raised most of the funding for the trip to France themselves with a series of events, including a VIP meal for their teachers and dignitaries such as the mayor Stan Pajak who is a big supporter of the scheme.

He said that in his job he enjoyed many special meals, but that this was the best of the bunch. Of the 14 who started the course, nine finished it and all have plans to go into employment, apprenticeships or further education.

Next year it will cater for more youngsters, giving even more of them a second chance to get things right.