Castle School Sixth Form – an overview

Castle School Sixth Form provides a highly personalised two or three-year Post-16 curriculum for young people with EHCPs. Our aim is simple: every learner leaves well-prepared for adult life, with the skills, confidence and independence they need to thrive in their next step.

Our Three Courses

(For more detail please see our course's presentation in the assessment area of the website):

Opportunity (Formal)

For learners aiming for employment or apprenticeships.

• Functional Skills Level 1–2
• Independent and targeted work placements
• Travel training, budgeting and life skills

Participation (Formal / Semi-Formal)

For learners moving into supported employment.

• Entry Level Functional Skills + Life & Living Skills
• Volunteering, horticulture, retail, hospitality
• College link courses and community participation

Live Well (Semi-Formal / Pre-Formal)

For learners preparing for adult social care pathways.

• Entry Level 1 accreditation
• Sensory-rich work experiences
• Personal-care routines, emotional regulation and structured independence

Preparation for Adulthood (PfA)

Embedded across all learning through four key strands:

Employment & Volunteering

School-based roles → supported group placements → independent work experience in settings such as Waitrose, Edge Café, care homes, Emmaus, Phoenix Trust and more.

Independent Living

Cooking, shopping, home management, managing money, travel training, domestic independence and community access.

Friends, Relationships & Community

Social communication, positive relationships, online safety, community visits and participation.

Good Health

Physical activity, emotional wellbeing, healthy routines, access to health services and confidence in medical settings.

Curriculum for Life

A practical, real-world curriculum that includes:

• Maths for Life (budgeting, time, money, measuring)
• English for Life (functional reading, writing, communication)
• PSHE for Life (relationships, personal care, wellbeing, safety)
• Personal Projects based on student interests
• Learning in Context through real-life activities such as enterprise, shopping, applications, travel and community work

Individual Pupil Support

Specialist and therapeutic support includes: speech and language, physio programmes, rebound therapy, music therapy, arts therapies, targeted reading, regulation spaces and bespoke PSHE.

Careers, Transitions & Partnerships

• Gatsby-aligned careers curriculum
• Employer encounters, workplace visits and Careers Week
• Strong community and charity partnerships
• College links with CRC and Huntingdon
• Robust transition support from KS4 to post-19 education and social care
• Participation in the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer for 16–21s
• Bikeability and Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze/Silver) enhancing independence and resilience

Our Promise

Every student leaves Castle Sixth Form with purpose, confidence and a meaningful destination, whether that is employment, supported work, college, volunteering or adult social care pathways.

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To learn more about the curriculum in the sixth form pathway, please click below: