16 – 19 Provision

Overview

I’d like to welcome you to the Post 16 Sheraton Building of Abbey Hill School and Technology College. Please take a tour of this ‘first class’ education facility and view the academic and practical areas where our students are provided with high quality teaching and opportunities to support them in maximising their potential. Although this website can provide you with an insight to the work of staff in the Sheraton Building if you would like more information please contact me via e-mail on pme@abbeyhill.stockton.sch.uk or Stockton 01642 664140.

The Sheraton Building of Abbey Hill School is the state of the art facility that supports the learning of a broad range of Post 16 students including those with severe and moderate learning difficulties, students on the autistic spectrum and also anxious, phobic students.

Support for these students is based upon three distinct curriculum models which provide broad and varied learning experiences and opportunities designed for different ranges of ability and need.

The most able of our students follow GCSE courses in several subjects including Maths, English, Science, ICT and Art with a significant focus on academic attainment. Students who have not yet reached the required standard for GCSE’s follow entry level courses up to level 3 in these subjects with Life Skills featuring highly in this area of the curriculum.

For those students whose needs necessitate more support, an additional practical curriculum model is provided to enable them to gain experience and skills and to achieve accreditation appropriate to their abilities.

Various other forms of accreditation run alongside our courses which broaden the experience based learning opportunities for the students.

Part of the timetable is given over to vocational options which include gaining skills and experience in Land Based Studies, Production in the Workshop, Hairdressing in the Salon, Photography, Cooking, swimming and other experiential activities including Work Experience placements. Work experience opportunities are made available to our students depending upon ability and reflect the practical element of the accreditation on offer.

Pastoral Support

Pastoral support within the Post 16 building is a continuation of a ‘the whole School approach’ and provides each student with a tutor and staff to support their development and skills. Staffundertake continual professional development and training to fulfil this role.

Reading

Reading is considered to be central to learning and understanding. As a result one of the primary aims in the Sheraton Building is the teaching of reading. This time is set aside four periods a week during which students are grouped according to ability levels and are placed in smaller classes so that they can be given increased levels of support to ensure that they all can access material and make high levels of progress.

Each year assessment results show that our students make excellent progress and continue to make advances through the various reading schemes available.

The school worked hard to obtain Artsmark at Gold level and we continue to make sure that all the arts are represented in the curriculum.