The Serendipity Centre in Southampton celebrates 10th birthday

The Serendipity Centre was set up in April 2006 to fill a gap in education.

Director Sue Tinson was working with excluded children when she realised she wanted to make a difference.

In care herself from birth, she spent her childhood in "horrific" residential care homes, leaving school with "practically nothing" except a marginal pass in CSE rural science and a future with little more to look forward to than bedsit land and a life of crime.

But with the help of one dedicated teacher she started to believe she was capable of more.

She got herself a job at McDonald's, quickly working her way up through management.

After a stint working in Saudi Arabia, she went on to college to train as a PE teacher.

But it was while working for Southampton's pupil referral unit for troubled children that she realised options for girls studying outside mainstream education were limited.

She said: "We were failing the girls at the curriculum. At the pupil referral unit all we had was brick-laying and plumbing, with hairdressing and childcare for the girls. And I thought what about the girl who wants to become a teacher or an architect?

"So in April 2006 we opened and in July of that year our first girl was placed, with three members of staff.

"Since then we've had over 50 girls through the doors and now we have three children's homes with 86 staff."

Starting off as just a day centre, Serendipity opened its first residential home in 2009. The three Hedge End family-style homes are for girls aged nine to 18eighteen from across the UK. Some live there and study at the centre in Thornhill, while some study in Thornhill and live in their family homes. But they're all in need of stability and the specialised parenting and one-to-one academic tuition that Serendipity can offer.

Sue said: "Many of the girls are not able to succeed in mainstream school, many have emotional and behavioural problems and many have traumatic home lives – some children have family and some don't. Most are in care.

"I used to be very similar to these young people. I thrived in chaos – I was safer there. I didn't trust adults, I had very low self-esteem and I was always looking for a fight. I was what we call 'heightened' – not relaxed.

"Most of our girls are like a cactus – very prickly and most of them are aggressive because their basic needs aren't being met. But all of a sudden with a cactus you get a little flower – and you stand back and think 'wow'.'"

It's testament to the dedication of the staff and Sue's management that the centre has been rated outstanding in all its Ofsted inspections.

At the school in Thornhill the girls sit a full academic timetable as well as trying out extra-curricular activities like sport, art and music.

Ms Tinson, who has a four-year-old son, said: "They come to us having been told they're unteachable, but they've been to Paris. Our aim is for them to be the best they can be."

Head of wellbeing and a doctor of psychology Tanya Griffiths has a dual role at the centre looking after the staff as well as the girls.

"The girls have access to therapy once a week to talk about any issues that are challenging them – keeping safe, working on self-esteem and self-care. They really value those sessions and we have 100 per cent attendance. We also teach them about building relationships and personal hygiene. Some of the girls who come to us have a history of neglect and haven't had maternal or paternal care. One girl hadn't washed for a long time so very sensitive parenting from staff enabled her to come out of her shell a bit. She didn't believe she was worth it but there has been a change in her confidence and her ability to do things for herself – and to want to do things for herself. It's not always consistent progress – there are peaks and troughs."

Head teacher Dr Michele Aldridge, who oversees the academic side of this year's 15 pupils, said: "We have a bespoke curriculum for all the girls, but the children have to believe in education and to trust that we'll be here every day. The fact that it's a small school does probably help and I'd love to increase the size, but the girls require that one-to-one ratio. They struggle with relationships and we give them constant nurturing which you wouldn't get in a bigger setting.

"We do lots of different activities and going abroad for example is a huge achievement –- it's completely out of their comfort zone.

"One of our pupils was a school refuser and she went fromto 0 to 100 per cent attendance within two terms. She's now even doing a couple of GCSEs. It's amazing to be able to give young people the chance they deserve. Their progress is phenomenal."

Having lived through the care system herself, it's clear that Sue Tinson's first-hand experience has given her an extra impetus to do right by the young people in her care.

She said: ""Our motto is 'the past is something that's gone forever – the future is something we'll work on together.'

"You could put me on a salary of £500,000 and it would be very nice but it's nowhere near the feeling of seeing that little flower emerge – that's the privilege. The girls' outcomes are extraordinary."

A 14 year old resident at Serendipity who can't be named said: "My mum couldn't cope with me.

"I had bad behavioural problems and she used to hit me. Social services took me to loads of homes but none of them were suitable. So I started my journey here.

"It's been great. I've achieved so much more than I thought I could. I've done a lot of exams – I'm good at English. I've made some good friends here and the staff are great.

"If I hadn't come here I would probably be in prison now, I was that bad. But I've managed to stop my behaviour and I'm proud of everything I've done.

"I want to be a lifeguard at Romsey Rapids. I've learnt here that the past is past – the future is the future."