At TreeHouse School, our Sixth Form offers a three-year learning programme for pupils aged 16–19. The curriculum is designed around the Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) framework. The PfA framework focuses on four key outcomes:
- Independent Living Skills
- Work-Related Learning
- Health
- Community Participation
Our aim is to support pupils in developing the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need for life beyond school.
Qualifications and Learning Approach
The Sixth Form curriculum is underpinned by Open College Network (OCN) qualifications at Entry Levels 1, 2, and 3. Pupils can achieve these qualifications at unit, award, or certificate level, depending on their engagement and individual learning pathways.
Learning takes place in small groups with high staff-to-pupil ratios, ensuring personalised support for each pupil. Each pupil’s Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes are embedded throughout the curriculum and taught in a functional and practical way, including within the local community. This helps pupils to apply and generalise their learning in real-life contexts.
English and Maths are embedded throughout the curriculum and taught through hands-on, meaningful activities relevant to daily life and future aspirations.
Tutorials
Each week, pupils take part in two hours of tutorials. These sessions include Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, including Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE). Tutorials also provide opportunities for pupils to discuss their future goals and life after school on an individual basis.
Assessment
Pupils are assessed and baselined at the start of each academic year, with progress reviewed termly. Assessment data is used to set individualised progress expectations based on each pupil’s starting point, ensuring that every pupil is supported to achieve their best.
Careers and Work-Related Learning
At TreeHouse School, we believe that every young person has the right to high-quality Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) — regardless of their needs or abilities.
Our careers and work-related learning programme is tailored to each pupil’s strengths, interests, and individual profiles. Work-related learning helps pupils to develop career awareness and employability skills through activities such as:
- Internal work experience opportunities
- External work experience opportunities
- Workplace encounters
- Mock interviews
- Engaging with an external career’s advisor
- Engaging with an internal employment specialist
- Contributing to personal E – Portfolios
- Careers and Transition planning
We are committed to working towards the Gatsby benchmarks. Recent work related placements / encounters have included opportunities in retail, hospitality and administration. These experiences enable pupils to learn by doing, build confidence, and develop positive attitudes towards lifelong learning. The school is currently working towards achieving the Quality in Careers Standard.
We are proud to support our pupils to be themselves and achieve their ambitions. Our Time for Ambition strategy sets out our vision — to continue strengthening our expertise in education and employability while expanding our focus on the wider aspects of a fulfilling life for autistic young people.
This includes promoting:
- Supportive families and relationships
- Good health and wellbeing
- Active participation in the community
You can view a visual of our learner journey here
You can view our provider access policy here
You can find our Time for Ambition strategy here
You can find our careers development plan here
If your child is taking part with our employability programme, we would appreciate your feedback. Please complete the feedback form and email Sadaf Aslam at saslam@treehouseschool.org.uk.
If you would like to know more about our Careers and Work-related learning offer, please contact our Employability and Enterprise lead at TreeHouse School - Rossana Caglia via email rcaglia@treehouseschool.org.uk.
