Their passion is the curriculum…
Temple Academy
A supportive space that will honour the self-discovery of our gifted teenagers by cultivating full respect and equality between their unique selves and their mentors.
Participants of the Temple Academy will be welcomed for exactly who they are, allowing their natural interests to be explored and cultivated.
Our ethos is based on the Anthroposophic development of consciousness. Around the age of 14 we start to create our own path towards the future. Facilitating this freedom is the primary foundation for Temple Academy.
Temple Academy – Youth Programme Overview
The Temple Academy is the youth-focused heart of the Temple Project, for neurodivergent, home-educated, and gifted young people who struggle with mainstream learning environments.
This is a new kind of education, one that does not currently exist in any established form. It is built around a single guiding question: Who has this person come here to be?
For gifted and neurodivergent individuals, passions, interests, and hyper-focus are not distractions - they are direction. When properly supported, their focus can deepen to extraordinary levels because it comes from something authentic and internally driven. Their passion is the curriculum.
“Look at the treasure you carry within,
That special gift only you can bring,
Share it with the world,
This is the medicine”
(Fia, Come back to Love)
Whatever a young person's own learning goals are and what they want to explore, learn, build, or create becomes the foundation of their journey. Our role is not to impose content, but to build an inspiring structure around their independant studies, with mentors, equipment, professional guidance, and a held, clear pathway forward.
If someone wants to rig a stage for a theatre production, we support it fully. If someone wants to build an alchemy-style science lab in the corner, we bring in the right scientists, equipment and oversight. If someone wants to develop a visual arts exhibition, produce music, or design a product - we scaffold that ambition with excitement, seriousness and professionalism.
We do not entertain interests casually. We back them properly and with enthusiasm.
As part of the Temple Project, Academy participants can also collaborate and be supported in group projects of their choosing, for example, working together on exhibitions, performances, film productions or a youth café. There will also be educator-led group sessions such as drama, martial arts and games to enliven learning and build group trust. These enjoyable experiences of working together, will help develop communication skills, and relational confidence in a setting that feels inspiring, safe, fun and affirming.
These young people can often experience isolation because of their sensitivities. A central part of our work is helping them feel that everything they are and need is ok, and ensuring they feel neither misunderstood nor alone.
Youth-Led Delivery Model
Participants have the opportunity to shape, organise, and administer the Academy, as well as run their own café and chill-out area, through supervised leadership roles within a clear professional framework.
Harri Kirsh (14): Youth Grants Administrator - Contributes to project coordination, grant applications, and programme decisions while developing practical leadership and business enterprise experience.
Sonny Boy Wallens (15): Youth Marketing Director - Contributes to project coordination, marketing strategy and content, promotion, and is an active participant in the Academy programme.
All youth leadership operates within structured adult oversight.
Adult CIC directors retain full legal, financial, and safeguarding responsibility, ensuring that youth agency develops inside secure and safe, professional boundaries.
This balance allows genuine ownership and autonomy without compromising accountability.
Temple Academy Leadership & Mentors
- Lucy Renée (Temple Project & Academy Director, Safeguarding Lead): 6 years working directly with home-educated neurodivergent youth groups and individuals, plus professional practice in photography, graphic design, and toy design. Ba (Hons) Transport Design. Steiner Teacher training. Independent registered ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support). LA funded EOTAS trained youth tutor and support for individuals with EHCP.
- Jade Le Lohe: (Temple Academy Director) 6+ years as main educator for neurodivergent home-education youth groups, and previous experience in schools. Steiner Teacher Trained. Formal safeguarding lead training. LA funded EOTAS trained youth tutor and support for individuals with EHCP.
- Abigail Moore: Actress, Theatre Company director and Theatre/Drama coach developing a drama-based outreach element at the Temple Academy for personal growth and empowerment, LA funded EOTAS trained drama tutor for groups and individuals with EHCP.
- Additional enhanced DBS-checked mentors following our ethos, experienced in tailoring education to complex needs, will also be part of the team depending of the needs of the individuals.
Temple Project Residencies
- Nikhil Kirsh (Temple Project Director/Artist in Residence): 20 years professional practice developing the Temple's signature large-scale geometric visual language. MA in Fine Arts. PGCE for Post-Compulsary Art Education. Available for mentoring.
- Matthew Adams "Manarva" (Sound Lord in Residence): 20 years professional practice in music production.Founder of Frome's ecstatic dance wave, (delivering high-quality music-led participatory movement experiences), and manager of the Temple Project’s own music recording studio. Available for mentoring.
Safeguarding Excellence
- All adults and volunteers working with children hold safeguarding training, first aid and Enhanced DBS checks.
- Named Safeguarding Lead: Lucy Renée (trained)
- Participants are always supervised by adults and are never left in sole charge.
- Small group delivery, clear risk assessments, defined procedures, and adult CIC governance underpin all activity.
- Safety, trust, respect and emotional wellbeing for all involved are the foundations of this project.
Strategic Partnerships Supporting the Academy
Abigail Moore's Theatre Company, The Hive Theatre, will have a new drama outreach element at the Temple Acadeny, focused on, personal growth and empowerment through drama, for Academy participants.
Outcomes & Impact
For young people: Sustained creative development and mentoring across term-time and holiday sessions as needed. Building confidence, expression, wellbeing, and enjoyable discovery of themselves and what inspires them, with deepened creative identity and self-direction.
Measurement: Participation data, family feedback, case studies documenting growth and personal development, personal reviews with mentors, portfolios and documentation of projects, collaboration with SENDCO on goals for EOTAS package students. We will also facilitate accredited courses and certificates to help them achieve what they need for the next steps in their education and personal journeys.
Public benefit: Regular youth-curated exhibitions, shows, performances. Workshops connecting Academy work to Frome's wider community. Contribution to Somerset’s accessible creative infrastructure and youth needs. Inspiring the seeds of our future and helping the next generation to make a difference.
The Temple Academy delivers professional cross-disciplinary arts excellence with genuine youth ownership and direction, addressing Somerset's critical gap in accessible creative and educational provision through sustained, inclusive, community-led practice.
Instagram updates of the Temple Academy @temple_academy_143
