Enterprising Mindsets: Exploring the ‘Enterprise Academy’ as a Form of Alternative Educational Provision

This research explores how an enterprise-focused alternative school shapes the lived experiences of at-risk youth in developing enterprising mindsets. Through a phenomenological case study of School Inc. in Adelaide, the study drew on preparatory staff interviews (n=8), ethnographic observation, and three rounds of student interviews (n=12, then 3+3). Findings highlight four themes central to students’ growth: creative agency, liberation, purpose, and belonging. These experiences reveal mindset development as dynamic and relational, moving beyond static skills acquisition. The study contributes to the literature by positioning enterprise education as a holistic and transformative form of alternative educational provision.