Sixth Form Curriculum and Work Experience

The aim of our Sixth Form curriculum is to provide pupils with meaningful and highly individualised learning experiences to prepare them for life beyond Paddock.

Within the Sixth Form Dept we aspire for all pupils to gain the knowledge and skills needed to study for qualifications which are in line with their personal aspirations.

All Pupils receive a challenging, personalised curriculum, based on their individual aspirations as set out in their EHCPs. Their curriculum is built upon their interests, needs and individual aspirations; this is achieved by incorporating life skills with vocational training and offering each pupil a personalised learning journey. Our learner aspirations continue to be at the center of the Sixth Form curriculum.

The department provides a broad and balanced curriculum offer by drawing upon aspects of ASDAN Towards Independence and ASDAN Personal Progress qualifications. We use a person–centred approach to develop new skills and knowledge to prepare pupils for life beyond Paddock. There is a strong focus on developing functional life skills to support preparation for adulthood by providing learning opportunities through work related learning both at school and within the local community.

Pupils learning journeys follow 4 main strands in preparing for adulthood.

Pupils can choose from a range of modules set to support continued development of their knowledge and skills that they will need to be successful in their adult lives.

The impact of the Sixth Form curriculum can be measured by:

Our young adults being able to make informed decisions about their future
Progress towards accreditations and qualifications
Levels of engagement
Ability to access the community with reduced adult support
Developing interests in hobbies and self occupation activities
Independence in completing work related tasks
Pupils successfully moving onto college placements

The Sixth Form pupils start to identify vocational areas of interest or particular activities that they would like to pursue after school, identify or are supported to indicate their preferred next step after school, explore different barriers and support they may need to enter employment and to further develop their work related learning skills.

This is supported via on site work experience, workplace visits, offsite work experience, and for some learners visits to colleges or work based training providers.

Pupils access the community on a regular basis through work related learning opportunities provided e.g.

Retail: Waitrose

Catering: School café

Horticulture: Roehampton Club

Child Care Support: Buzy Beez

Pupils who are unable to access a work environment have the opportunity to take on vocational work based positions within Paddock School. These areas include:

Gardening: School allotment and Holly Lodge Centre in Richmond Park

Enterprise: Making greeting cards to sell to the public in the café

Resource Assistant: Supporting our resource manager

Office skills: Working in the school office, recycling and shredding and filing

Catering: Cooking meals and cakes to be sold in the school café

Sensory: Baking, Attention Autism, Storytelling and Companion Cycling

Sixth Form aged pupils have an enriched curriculum involving many off site visits and opportunities to practice their skills in alternative settings.

Other things that are available for pupils in our Sixth Form Dept are, where applicable:

Travel training
Duke of Edinburgh Award
P.E
Swimming
Dance
Cooking
Shopping
ICT
Speech and language

Life after Paddock

Our ex-pupils are invited to attend a termly lunch with the current Sixth Form Department. The lunch provides opportunities for past pupils to share their college experiences and future aspirations with their peers, in relation to supporting their decisions for life after Paddock.

During our recent (Oct 2021) OFSTED inspection the school was judged as outstanding.

The inspectors commented : ‘In the sixth form’

•Students value opportunities to work in the café and handle money

•Planned experiences using public transport for selected students help to promote their independence

•Sixth form students are well prepared for their next stage of education or employment

•Students in the sixth form understand that people have special times together and can share love and happiness