Beacon Business Innovation Hub
Free schools alternative provision school in Ilford (Redbridge).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
At BBIH, we believe that every young person deserves to feel safe and supported. Our vision is to empower each learner with the confidence, skills, and sense of purpose they need to lead a happy, healthy, and successful life beyond school. Many of our students have experienced barriers in mainstream education.
We provide the second chance they need—through flexible, high-expectation, and relational teaching that enables every learner to redefine what's possible for themselves. We are proud to offer an alternative, rigorous progression route for students whose needs have not been met elsewhere.
Our personalised and careers-centred curriculum is designed to reconnect young people with their learning—by linking education to their real lives, aspirations, and futures. At BBIH, success isn't about fitting into a traditional mould—it's about achieving personal growth and learning to be ambitious.
Our curriculum offers aspirational, work-related qualifications at GCSE level and equivalent, supported by a mentoring programme that puts students at the centre of their journey.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
2 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Coding
- Cooking
Awards
2 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Anti-Bullying CharterRecognised award
- Teaching School HubRecognised award
Key facts
- URN
- 141006
- Type
- Free schools alternative provision
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 12 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Redbridge
- Constituency
- Ilford North
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2014
Governing body (15 current, 6 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.1 governor is linked to a profile (all confirmed).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Sheraz Bhatti | Shared Chair of Local Governing Body - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Sheraz Bhatti Former | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2025 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Melany Steel | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by trustees | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Vij Zorba | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Carla Bradman | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Zaid Furreedan | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Stephen Smith Confirmed same person | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Ms Emmanuelle Massudi | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Zohaib Tariq | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mr Harry Williamson | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by trustees | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Oluwafunmi Kubweza | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Appointed by trustees | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Will Mackintosh | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2024 · until 2030 |
| Mr Kevin Howarth | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2023 · until 2030 |
| Ms Yvonne Andress | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2019 · until 2030 |
| Ms Kathryn Burns | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2019 · until 2030 |
| Mr Deep Bamrah | Shared Local Governor - Establishment | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2017 · until 2030 |
| Mr Waqas Khan Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2025 |
| Mrs Ceylan Simsek Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2025 |
| Mrs Audrey Pereira Former | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2024 · term ended 2025 |
| Ms Jennifer D'Arcy Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2025 |
| Mr Sheraz Bhatti Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2021 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record