We've been doing this for 13+ years because it matters
Directional CIC exists because too many young people fall through the gaps in education. We work alongside schools, families, and communities to change that — one student at a time.
How we started
Directional was founded by a qualified teacher who kept meeting the same problem: students who were capable but couldn't cope in mainstream school. Not because they lacked ability, but because the system wasn't built for how they learn, communicate, or deal with the world.
So we built something different. A team of practitioners who combine professional qualifications with lived experience — people who understand these young people because they've walked similar roads themselves.
Thirteen years on, we deliver Alternative Provision, school outreach, and community programmes across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.
Directional is owned and led by Jordan Gatehouse — a qualified English teacher who joined the organisation as a youth mentor in 2020 and progressed through head of programmes, head of outreach and director before becoming its owner. His full story is at gat3house.com.
"We're still small enough to know every student by name, and experienced enough to deliver real results."
— The founding principle
What we believe
Young people first
Every decision we make starts with what's best for the young person in front of us. Not the system. Not the paperwork.
Relationships are the work
You can't support someone you haven't built trust with. We show up consistently, and we earn it.
Experience and evidence
Our practice is grounded in research, but it's shaped by 13 years of working with young people who don't fit the mould.
Honest about outcomes
We track what matters — attendance, engagement, progress — and we share it openly with schools and families.
The people behind the work
Our team brings together education and youth-work professionals with combined experience across Alternative Provision, mainstream schools, and community settings.
