Seniors Programme: 16-19 years

The transition from childhood to adulthood is a vital stage in the life of any young person.  The adolescent faces many questions...  What does it mean to be an adult?  What are my strengths and weaknesses?  How can I discover and use the talents I have?  Community living is well suited to answering these questions and to meeting the demands of the growing and developing young person.

The Seniors Programme caters for approximately 20 residential and day students, aged 16 to 19.  Most Students live on-site, in houses accommodating up to eight students, under the guidance and support of houseparents and co-workers.

The Programme is a structured 3 year course incorporating a broad-based, pre-vocational curriculum offering formal classroom learning via topics and themes, craft and community service workshops and formal and informal life skills teaching.  Artistic activities, sports and social experiences further foster skills and attitudes for life.  To support and focus learning each student has individual learning aims based on Mencap's ‘Essential Skills Award’, though we are currently reviewing the accreditation schemes we offer.

We have a range of workshops for green woodwork, gardening and estate and woodland care, food preparation, basket, candle and paper making, felting and weaving.  A shop workshop, for meeting the needs of the school community, with vegetable and dairy produce deliveries and a range of stocked foodstuffs, is being further developed during the 2007/8 academic year.  Our education facilities include well equipped IT facilities in the classrooms, a range of learning environments and a sports hall.

For a taste of what the students experience click here (snapshot of the Christmas term 2007).