Pupil referral units educate some of the most troubled children when conventional schools have given up. Isabel de Bertodano visits one in Bristol and discovers an inspiring place where pupils are thriving

When Beth Griffin was expelled from school, she felt nothing but relief. Animosity between her and her teachers was huge and school was a stressful endurance test. “I hated my school, I wanted to leave for ages so I was just happy when they told me to get out,” says the 16-year old, grinning as she pulls the sleeves of her black sweatshirt over her hands and squeezes them between her knees.

Beth, who is bubbly and likeable, is now at St Matthias Park pupil referral unit (PRU) in Bristol. When we meet, she is awaiting interviews with colleges and hopes to start a beauty therapy course. I ask why she was expelled from school and she shrugs: “I don’t know. School sucks, write that down.”

The head of St Matthias Park, Aileen Morrison, gives her a gentle nudge: “You were getting into fights, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, I was fighting a lot with everyone. I kept getting angry, but since I’ve been here I haven’t had any fights.”

So what’s changed?