POST 16
RAVENSCLIFFEPost-16 learning is spread across both our sites at Ravenscliffe, with Emergent and Sensory students based at Skircoat Green and Formal and Semi-Formal students based at Spring Hall. We are deeply committed to supporting our learners into adulthood, by focussing on the key preparing for adulthood outcomes. These include developing work related learning skills through our Employability programme and nurturing wellbeing and relationships within RSHE and Thrive.
We also support independence though a whole range of different curriculum areas. Many of our learners will continue to benefit from the great physical provision of the hydro pool and rebound facilities at Skircoat Green. For those with particular support needs that require intensive physical activity, a learning base will continue at the main school site.
We believe passionately in recognising the achievements and progress our learners have made in their school journey so far, and extending these further as they move into adulthood. We offer a broad balance of learning opportunities, including traditional academic areas such as Literacy, Numeracy and Computing. All three of these include Entry Level qualifications through Pearson Edexcel.
We also offer nationally recognised Entry Level qualifications through Laser Learning Awards in a very wide range of subject areas. The majority of our learners will leave with a portfolio of accreditation and certificates that will act as currency when they move into Post-19 provision.
Employability
Our Employability programme is a combination of WRL lessons where students gain valuable experience in areas such as interview skills, C.V writing, rights and responsibilities and taking part in either external or internal work placements. Behind every successful placement is our dedicated team of Job Coaches, who provide the students expert support in the workplace and maintain close relationships with employers. Working alongside Work-Related Learning teaching staff, they create engaging learning programmes with clear, individual outcomes that help students grow both personally and professionally.
Our Work-Related learning placements give students the opportunity to step out of the classroom and experience the excitement, responsibility and rewards of the working world. Through partnerships with employers across Calderdale, some students take part in weekly external work experience that is carefully tailored to their individual strengths, interests and future ambitions. Our external placements are with Morrisons, Asda, Tesco, The Shay and The Play Mill Gym. Our placements are constantly evolving as we develop further relationships with new employers alongside the bespoke interests of our students.
In addition to our extensive network of external placements, students can also gain valuable workplace experience through a growing range of internal opportunities across both school sites. These include placements working in; Café, Catering, Beauty, Horticulture, Animal Care, Tech (IT), Site Team, Admin/Office, Enterprise and our newest venture, The Coffee Cart.
If you would like to read more about our internal work placements please click here!
For many students, their work-related placement is the highlight of the week. It offers the chance to become a valued member of a real workforce, contributing to meaningful tasks and developing the confidence that comes from knowing their work truly matters. Every placement is tailored to the student through vocational profiling, ensuring the perfect balance of challenge, independence and support. It is an opportunity for students to prove not only to employers, but also to themselves, just how much they can achieve.
The impact of a work-related learning placement can be life-changing. The commitment and hard work demonstrated by our students can lead directly to paid employment opportunities, either alongside their studies or as full-time positions after leaving Ravenscliffe.
At Ravenscliffe, we believe work related learning is far more than a work experience placement. It is an invaluable learning experience that equips our students with the skills, confidence and resilience needed for adult life. By contributing to their local community and developing greater independence, students gain a strong sense of achievement, confidence, resilience, and purpose, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the workplace and thrive in the future.
Accreditation
We are a QCF registered centre which means that we are able to be flexible in the qualifications we engage with and try to tailor our offer according to the needs of all our young people. We are a recognised centre for the delivery of Pearson/ Edexcel qualifications. Functional Skills Controlled assessments are carried out in English, Maths and ICT at Entry Levels 1-3. In addition to this, we are looking to run Food Hygiene and Safety courses at Level 1 and 2. This year, we have also become a registered centre for Laser Learning Awards. This provides us with a suite of nationally recognised Entry Level qualifications at Entry Level across the curriculum. By the time they leave us, the majority of our learners will have a portfolio of accreditation that will serve as recognised currency for future employers or in FE settings. This is a particularly exciting development for our school and our learners have embraced the challenge of taking on these tailor made qualifications, designed specifically for people with additional needs. We are also continuing to run the highly regarded Duke of Edinburgh course for many of our students, again a well recognised accredited course that really pushes the boundaries and challenges our young to be the best that they can.
Curriculum
The Post 16 curriculum is a continuation from Key Stage 3 and 4 in preparing our students for their future. It meets the individual needs of the students, whilst at the same time being interesting, stimulating and motivating. For our formal and semi formal students there is a balance of more formal academic lessons that are accredited with more vocational lessons that include employability and life skills as well as subjects that meet individual interests e.g. Art, photography, leisure and media. For Emergent and Sensory students, they continue to follow a much more multi-sensory and communication based curriculum.
For more information about the curriculum at Post 16 please click here.
Transition
Transition from Ravenscliffe to Post-19 placements is something we start to explore from Year 12. Looking back through individual students EHCPs provides a platform that indicates student and family views, opinions and aspirations for the future. This of course informs the individual student’s curriculum content in terms of timetable and relevant accredited courses to be followed.
There are a large number of Post-19 providers offering a wide range of services. Placements are explored throughout Post-16, and relevant transition visits are undertaken which include local placements, both educational and non- educational, as well as possible residential colleges.
Taster visits take place throughout Years 12, 13 and 14 through timetabled slots. Students visit colleges further afield depending upon individual choice. Post-19 agencies are encouraged to come into school to work with individual students and students visit placements individually or in very small groups, with support, over a prescribed period of time to support their emotional wellbeing.
All Post-16 providers are invited to our annual transition coffee morning and our annual evening transition event which is held at our Spring Hall site. Students and parents from Y10 upwards are invited. It has proven to be very successful as everyone is able ask relevant questions, take away brochures/leaflets, make individual appointments and attend open days. On the Post 19 section of the website there is a list and more information from the providers.
More information can be found here.
Transition beyond Ravenscliffe information
Each student leaves school with a portfolio of personal information (Personal Profile) that will support their placements in the future. This includes:
- Education Health and Care Plan
- Communication Passport for those students who may struggle to communicate their likes/dislikes and choices conventionally
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Evidence of their progress and time at Ravenscliffe
- Information around how each individual student prefers to learn.
- Pupil’s one page profile
- A Transition Action Plan
- Any Accredited Course Certificates they have achieved in their time with us.
The above information is designed to help and assist Post-19 Providers to assess where the students are in their learning. This ensures that progress can be maintained and developed rather than students taking a backwards step whilst their individual learning needs are assessed by college and other providers. Providers will be able to see at a glance the achievements and abilities of the individual.