Post-16
All Key Stage 4 students progressing into Post 16 will:
- Have an informed careers plan based on Careers Adviser guidance
- Have a provisional intended destination based on personal, professional and parental feedback
- Have achieved accredited learning relevant to pathway and interest
Post-16 is the preparation of students for the end of their Holbrook journey.
Our curriculum offers bespoke and personalised pathways to support students to reach their intended destination. We recognise the need for personalised outcomes for all our young people and aim to support all students to move into adulthood as independently as possible.
Our Post-16 curriculum is built upon the four preparation for adulthood areas: Friends and Community, Employment, Independent Living and Good Health. Students will work towards outcomes in these areas and receive accreditation from the nationally-recognised awarding organisation: ASDAN. Students also have the opportunity to complete further functional skills and vocational qualifications with Open Awards, including: IT User Skills, Animal Care and Travel Training.
Our curriculum is designed with the understanding that each student will have unique starting and destination points. We offer a range of person-centred learning opportunities through a carefully planned curriculum that promotes independence and preparation for adulthood whilst building upon key skills developed in previous years. With staff support, students in Post-16 will continue to reflect on their ‘end goal’ and personal progress in each of the preparation for adulthood areas.
The breadth of provision, with a focus on increased community access, enriches student experience and provides a context for the growth and understanding required for adult life.
The Post-16 curriculum is adapted annually to best meet the needs of students within the cohort. It aims to raise aspiration and develop our students’ self-belief, functional communication and independence skills, as these are vital for preparing for adulthood. We are committed to developing our student’s cultural capital and to challenging stereotypes and removing barriers that our students may encounter when planning for transition.
The aims of the Post-16 provision are as follows:
- Preparation for transition
- Development of life skills
- Development of vocational and employability skills
Stream
Stream pathway students access activities through a structured student-led, continuous provision learning environment. This environment encourages them to make their own choices, helping them to learn what the best choices are. Consistent routines and the sensory environment enable learners to develop life skills and express themselves in a stimulating and nurturing environment. A student’s EHCP is central to the planning of lessons and activities in this pathway, in addition to the four preparation for adulthood areas. Students in the Stream pathway will participate in a curriculum that is largely dominated by ‘independent living’, ‘good health’ and the ‘friends and community’ strands. The focus of provision for Stream students is on the development of life skills within these areas, with increased community access to apply these skills in different settings.
River
River pathway students are encouraged to explore their world and make connections, developing fundamental skills for adulthood. The four preparation for adulthood areas provide a context through which communication and independent life skills are developed. Curriculum content and each individual’s EHCP work together to inform lesson content. Students access a range of ‘Futures’ and work-related learning including workplace visits, employer talks and vocational and enterprise activities. The ASDAN ‘Realising Aspirations’ programme is embedded to support teaching and learning. Students in the River pathway will also have the opportunity to work towards accreditation in identified courses linked to interest and destination.
Ocean
Ocean pathway students access tailored study programmes that build upon the preparation for adulthood outcomes specified in the ASDAN ‘Realising Aspirations’ programme. There is a continued emphasis on the development of functional literacy and numeracy through embedded activities within the PFA curriculum. Activities are designed to build upon the knowledge and skills gained at Key Stage 4, giving students increased access to the community to apply these. Students access a range of ‘Futures’ and work-related learning including work experience, supported insight schemes, enterprise and mock interviews. Students in the Ocean pathway will work towards a range of accreditation in identified courses linked to interest and destination.
Accreditation
All Post 16 students work towards a nationally recognised accreditation.
At Post-16, all students work towards accreditation through Open Awards. There is a strong emphasis on developing functional communication, literacy, numeracy and ICT as well as independence, employability and life skills.
We support learners to achieve qualifications in areas such as: Personal Growth, Skills and Engagement;, Functional Skills and Travel Training. Accredited courses are linked to EHCP outcomes, My Plans, pathways and student interest.
Accreditation Results 2023-24
Careers and Work Experience
Students are offered a range of opportunities to develop life skills with a strong vocational focus throughout the school but particularly for Post 16 students. Opportunities based around the young person’s strengths and interests are identified via the Compass+ platform and student ‘Vocational Profiles’. These inform work placements and work related learning opportunities. Vocational placements are linked to EHCP outcomes, Plans and identified pathways.
Work experience and work related learning is one of the most important link activities between employers and schools. It is a significant step in preparing young people for adulthood and working life by developing their personal and social skills as well as the key skills they will need for the world of work. Holbrook School for Autism use the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Benchmarks to guide careers provision. Students are entitled to careers education and guidance that is impartial and confidential. It is integrated into their experience of the whole curriculum, based on a partnership with students and their parents/ carers. The programme promotes equality of opportunity, inclusion and anti-racism.
Careers provision and work related experiences are tracked via the school’s Seesaw app and the students’ personal ASDAN ‘Employment’ folders. In addition to the Key Stage 4/5 ‘Futures’ curriculum, students will have opportunities to visit colleges or social care provision, attend Open Days and receive careers advice and guidance.
By Year 14 we aim to have a named destination for all students in order to support our young people in successfully transitioning to intended destinations. All students will follow a careers programme to introduce them to the world of work and will have work experience placements and enterprise opportunities where appropriate.
Holbrook Careers Futures Programme
Holbrook & The Gatsby Benchmarks
Impact
Educational outcomes are measured against accredited outcomes and lateral progress. All students develop a personal Careers Futures Portfolio from Year 7, which will support future transitions and destination points. We promote a firm ethos of learning beyond the classroom and students engage in an extensive careers and work related learning programme linked to personal outcomes, accreditation and destination.
Ocean Case Study 2021-2022
River Case Study 2021-2022
Stream Case Study 2021-2022
Additional Information
Parental Information – Belper Site Curriculum
Destination Data
Accreditation Overview
Post Holbrook Opportunities
Post 16 Transitions
Post 16 Consent
During the application process for employment and also further education or training the provider may contact Holbrook School for Autism to confirm your dates of attendance and examination results.
Under UK GDPR Holbrook School for Autism will need your consent before releasing this information.
After progessing on from Holbrook School for Autism we would like to check how you are getting on, we need your agreement to share information that identifies you and what you have gone on to do. We already do this as a requirement of the Education and Skills Act 2008, until you are aged 16. We need to check you are happy for us to continue.
Please complete and return the consent forms to school or email them to info@holbrookschoolforautism.co.uk