Intent

St George’s Sixth Form aims to deliver a varied curriculum centred on the skills, knowledge and experiences needed for each individual’s pathway to adulthood, and to provide our learners with the best holistic education to prepare them for their next steps. Our curriculum considers the needs and aspirations of individual learners and their different pathways, and is ambitious in providing them with the tools to become successful adults and undertake their individual next steps confidently and effectively with the greatest amount of autonomy and independence.

Implementation

The curriculum is designed around the learning of functional, core skills to equip students from Pre Entry through to Level 2 with the practical skills they need to live, learn, and work, or engage in adulthood successfully. 

The curriculum is designed around a combination of Maths and English, based round Functional Skills programmes, at a level appropriate to the student, through a range of delivery routes, from formal lessons to practical Life Skills based activities. Students can complete formal assessment, or Quality Mark Accreditation from Pre Entry – L2. 

The curriculum also includes Life Skills, Work Skills, RSHE, RaW, Volunteer Work, accessing the community, work placements and Supported Internships. These provide students with practical skills and knowledge to prepare them for their own pathways, whether they be, bespoke packages, Further Education or Care Providers, Supported Living, Independent Living or Work. 

Vocational Options are a core part of each student’s curriculum, which feed into next steps to local Further Education Providers, Local Employment Sectors, areas of student interest, for personal development, student aspiration and a set of core skills for adulthood.

At the heart of our Sixth Form are our school values: Aspiration, Resilience, Independence and Respect. These underpin our curriculum and the ethos of the Sixth Form. At St George’s Sixth Form, we place great importance on a curriculum, which develops the whole person in preparation for their individual next steps. Through our core values, we foster an environment where development of the; cognition and Learning, communication and interaction, physical and sensory needs, social, emotional and mental health, of each child is considered. We firmly believe that everyone is entitled to an ambitious, curriculum, tailored to suit their style and stage of learning. 

Impact

For learners 

• To achieve accreditation outcomes that give them preparation for adult life, whether this be employment, further education, independent living, supported living or being an active part of their community.
• To have firm destinations in place for post St George’s life which relate to their own personal aspirations.
• To be prepared for their next steps, through work placements, community experiences, ability to self-advocate and communicate to the best of their ability.   

St George’s 6^th form Curriculum Design

Students in the 6^th form are grouped into mixed year class groups based on academic level and on social needs. Students follow a Life Skills Pathway or a Vocational Pathway depending on their Pathway to Adulthood. 

Students on a Vocational Pathway are working towards employment and living independently.

Students on a Life Skills Pathway are building steps to more independence, autonomy and self-advocacy within a supported adult life.

Students can move between Pathways depending on their individual choices, progress and needs.

Students may leave 6^th form in either Year 12, Year 13 or Year 14. Course content for class-based lessons roll across 3 years so that students are able to build units from year 12-14 in mixed year cohorts.

Maths and English

Students begin their Functional Skills curriculum based on their Year 11 attainment levels. 

For English and Maths, students leave their class groups and go into streamed classes. These are streamed at the following levels: Pre Entry, Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1. Some students will be learning practically and compiling a portfolio of evidence for assessment and others will sit formal exams.

Core lessons

Class based lessons are Life Skills, RSHE, Religion and World view. Students on Vocational Pathways also complete an accreditation in Work Skills. 

These are designed to be differentiated for learners accessing the different pathways. 

Accredited Options

Students can choose 2 Options to study as part of their individual programme of study. These run on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Where possible teachers link with local businesses and organisations to ensure students have real life experience with the world of work in their chosen Options, as well as planning in both practical and Enterprising activities into their school based offer.

These are:

• Animal Care
• Horticulture
• Construction
• Car Maintenance
• Hair and Beauty
• Hospitality
• Health and Social Care/Childcare
• Travel and Tourism

These are reviewed yearly based on both student aspiration and labour market information specific to the Isle of Wight market. 

Community based learning and Volunteer work

Students on a Vocational Pathway all take part in Community Work partnering with a range of organisations within the local community.

These are currently:

• The Garlic Farm
• Ventnor Botanic Garden
• Quarr Abbey
• Harvey Browns
• Newport Congregational Church

Learners on a Life Skills Pathway may access these if appropriate but will also take part in a large portion of their curriculum within the community, to learn about local facilities, shops, places of interest, different post 16 providers and different providers of meaningful activities, to enable them to take an active role in their local communities. 

Unaccredited Options

Friday mornings allow students to focus on their own Personal Development through unaccredited Options in a range of creative and physical areas. These are reviewed termly based on areas of interest or current opportunities. These are currently:

• Sport in the community
• Performing Arts
• Computing/Robot project
• Hospitality
• Art
• Photography/Environment

Work Experience

We aim for all learners to undertake an individual work experience by the time they have left St George’s. Please see Careers section of Website for more information.