Sixth Form

Mission Statement:

To create a highly-effective learning community that nurtures and develops students’ potential, guiding them on their journey to adulthood.

Our latest challenge partner review accredited our area of ‘Excellence’ with an ‘Outstanding Preparation for Adulthood’

“In the sixth form, students’ aspirations have grown. They are better informed about their skills and preferences, with confidence about their independence skills plans, having experienced the benefits of taking on roles in the world of work. Parental surveys show raised aspirations for their children. Increasingly they appreciate the possibilities for them to train or find employment at a suitable level. Students are more confident with improved wellbeing. Social interaction, communication, self-esteem, initiation, choice-making, organisation skills, fine and gross-motor skills are examples of EHCP targets which are being met through employability skills activities. More students have become independent travellers and are accessing public transport to reach their work placement. Students have a strong moral compass and resilience, due in part to their developing contributions to society, through the volunteering section of the Duke of Edinburgh.” Challenge Partners Review (Feb 2024)

In Sixth form young people continue to follow a pathway model through a ‘Preparation For Adulthood’ focus. Young people follow appropriate qualification pathways, vocational study and engage in relevant work-related learning, including work experience. Study programmes are built around their EHCP and individual aspirations for adulthood.

Pathway 1

Young people on Pathway 1 will complete a 3- year programme of study and will typically have the most complex learning, physical and medical needs requiring the highest levels of support. Young people work with a small group of highly skilled colleagues who understand their complex needs.

The timetable is designed to prepare of young people for adulthood by providing enhanced opportunities to develop skills in real life situations. They will follow an individual program of study linked to their EHCP, and towards an ASDAN qualification ‘Supporting Aspirations’. Preparation for adulthood outcomes are embedded through the curriculum programme of study and termly topics.

Young people carry out their individual therapy programs daily in order to maintain physical skills, these programs are reviewed with the therapy team to ensure they are reflective of young persons needs. Specialist support is also available for young people requiring speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, through referral.

Pathway 2

Young people on Pathway 2 route in 6th Form will complete a 3- year programme of study and will typically have severe learning difficulties (SLD) or complex autism.

Preparation for adulthood outcomes are embedded through the curriculum: Employment, Independence, Community Inclusion and Good Health. Our young people are also active members within the community and attend a variety of volunteering opportunities and work placements.

Specialist support is also available for young people requiring speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, through referral.

The Qualifications Pathway 2 young people study include:

ASDAN ‘Realising Aspirations’

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Arts Award

In-house certificates

Pathway 3

Young people on Pathway 3 route in 6th Form will complete a 3- year programme of study and will typically work at Entry Level 1 and 2 with some complex learning and sensory needs.

This route prepares young people for adulthood by providing enhanced learning opportunities in and out of the classroom to develop skills for life. Young people work on individualised programs of study linked to their EHCP and aspirations for the future. All aspects of the curriculum reflect the Preparation for Adulthood outcomes: Employment, Independence, Community Inclusion and Good Health.

Young people work towards achieving a certificate in NOCN Independent Living Skills and NOCN Maths and English Young people on this pathway gain experience and knowledge of the workplace through in-house employability tasks and will have encounters with employers both in the academy and on off-site visits. All young people are provided with both internal and external work experience placements in line with their aspirations.

All learning opportunities are functional, relating to real life scenarios that motivate young people, preparing them for life beyond Portland. Young people on this route are encouraged to be as independent as possible in relation to their work, behaviour and relationships, they take responsibility for their learning environment.

Young people explore a wide range of possible pathways for the future through regular visits to educational providers and visitors to the class.

The Qualifications Pathway 3 young people study include:

NOCN Certificate in Independent Living skills.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

NOCN Entry Level Maths and English

In-house certificates

Reading

Work Related Learning & Work Experience

Work Related Learning

Employability and work experience is an opportunity to introduce young people to the world of work, develop skills and break down barriers to help them get a job in the future.

Here at Portland Academy Sixth Form we strive to create our own opportunities for our young people to experience the world of work in different ways which match their future aspirations and needs with the safe, familiar and nurturing environment.

In addition, we offer our young people experiences and knowledge of the workplace through in-house employability tasks. Students’ EHCP targets are addressed through a variety of work related opportunities, including roles within our own community café as a barista or server, , lunch waiter, sports leader, administrative tasks, recycling, litter picking, laundry, breakfast enterprise and wheelchair handling and many more.

Enterprise

All our young people will participate in enterprise projects as part of the curriculum offer throughout the academic year. We recognise that enterprise supports our young people to learn and develop in a way that meets their needs/aspirations and develop skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work.

Work Experience

We recognise the importance of work experience placements and have worked hard to develop a variety of links with employers throughout Sunderland. Our dedicated work experience lead supports many students on external placements, ensuring that the placement works for both the employer and student. She plays a crucial role in supporting adaptations, visuals, symbol instructions and delivers health and safety training. Where possible our young people will independently travel to their identified place of work, following support from the travel training leads.

The number and range of links with local businesses offering work experience placements continues to grow. Students are able to develop childcare, office, factory line, catering, hospitality, receptionist, dog grooming, animal care and horticultural skills.

Travel Training

At present, we have two fully trained colleagues who deliver bespoke Travel Training to identified young people who can safely develop skills to travel independently.

Travel Training gives our people the confidence and skills to travel independently on buses, trains and walking routes.

Being able to travel on public transport is a key life skill for our young people which supports them to make choices about how they want live, go about their daily life, fulfil their potential, and increases their chances of getting into employment.

During training they will cover:

• confidence in using buses or trains

• personal safety

• how to use timetables and buy tickets

• road safety, including how to cope with traffic on major roads

• what to do when things go wrong (e.g. the bus is late)

Where appropriate, Travel training in this pathway also focuses on giving our young people the different experiences of travel training in the community with their peers. These different experiences using public buses, trains and ferries enables our young people to develop the skills to live a safe, healthy, valued and inclusive life into adulthood.

Travel Training in this pathway will be focused on our young people exploring the local community and wider region using different modes of transport with the support of our specialist trained colleagues.

At present our Pathway 3 young people use timetabled Community Access lessons to develop their skills.

Young people will learn how to:

• Pay for their own fare.

• Safely embark/disembark on transport.

• Engage positively with the local community while travel training but also when visiting local shops.

• Explore future college or social care settings in preparation for Post 19.