As an integral part of the St John’s School Catholic Community, Post-16 aspires for all of our young people to be both happy and contented and to flourish as willing participants in their learning journeys. We aim to develop a strong sense of belonging and celebrate diversity through mutual respect. We will provide opportunities for all our young people to develop the necessary life and independence skills to successfully prepare for adulthood.

Our Post-16 Department has three pathways; Sensory, Semi-Formal and Formal. We support learners transitioning from Child to Adult Services with an emphasis on developing life and independence skills. Learnt skills are applied through Functional English and Mathematics, differentiated to the needs of learners.

All 3 pathways have a Preparation for Adulthood emphasis with some learners achieving accreditation through the BTEC Pre-vocational Study Programme. Those learners who do not access the BTEC accreditation undertake AQA UAS units to record learner achievement and will receive a certificate that celebrates their achievements.

The Department employs a Total Communication Approach, with active listening, communicating; to a peer, groups of peers, to an adult, to a wider audience through speech and signing – reading; comprehension, for pleasure – writing; topic, form filling, creating a C.V. Our classrooms reflect our approach with signage and visuals.

The Preparation for Adulthood agenda is delivered in the curriculum through the areas of Employment, Independent Living Skills, Community Inclusion and Health.

The areas are taught discretely and also through an integrated approach with activities such as running the Tuck Shop incorporating a variety of skills; travel training (to purchase stock), Functional Mathematics (planning a shopping trips, calculating cost), team work (setting up, running and clearing down the shop), customer services (addressing customers and catering for their needs).

We have our own dedicated Post-16 Flat where learners can undertake simple housekeeping and practise hygiene skills as well as cooking simple hot meals.

Post-16 believe mental health an important part of the “Health” aspect and we employ the Zones of Regulation to enable us to communicate how we are feeling and what strategies we can employ to support ourselves. Learners also access Relationship and Sex Education, led by our Learning Mentor in order to understand our bodies and what makes a good relationship.

In addition we take part in Food Technology sessions, Horticulture and enrichment activities such as attending Redbridge Drama Centre to develop social interaction and creative exercises.

Our Year 14 learners attend Lambourne End to undertake the “Food for Thought” programme to develop their employability skills.