Preparing for Adulthood

September 2021

In 2020-2021 we have trailed the AQA - Unit Award Scheme (UAS) to recognise student attainment. We have found this successful and will be using the scheme with all Post 16 students in 2021-2022.

The Unit Award Scheme is a unique recording of achievement scheme, rather than a qualification.  It offers learners the opportunity to have their achievements formally recognised with a certificate each time a short unit of learning is successfully completed.

There are no limits on:

• what can be accredited, as long as it is worthwhile and meaningful for the learner

• who can achieve, in terms of age or ability

• how long it takes to achieve or when this takes place

• how learning can be evidenced.

UAS focusses on students’ achievements, no matter what their age or ability, they can have their achievement formally recognised.

UAS can help learners with progression to further study, training, employment, independent living and more active involvement in society.

These areas also link with the Preparing for Adulthood within the students EHCPs.

UAS is known to motivate, encourage, engage, support, and raise self-esteem and can reward achievement which might otherwise go unrecognised, eg small steps or non-mainstream subjects. The UAS will support our students to preparing for adulthood and each student will access core units alongside bespoke units to meet with their personal interests and support them to move to the next stage of their life when they leave High Park. The units will feed into the students' vocational profiles, which will support them to access the right adult packages on leaving school.

The UAS provides a wide range of units which are differentiated, making accreditation accessible to all students at High Park regardless of their ability. It gives us the freedom to make amendments to current units or write our own allowing us to celebrate the students’ individual interests and talents.

With this change comes excitement for our students and offers the opportunity to have their achievements formally recognised with a certificate each time a short unit of learning is successfully complete.

Here is an example of one UAS units our students will be working towards.

The weekly timetable for Post 16 students is separated into the curriculum focus areas and will be working on the core units for each curriculum area.

Monday - Independence, & Living

Tuesday - Good Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday - Friends, Relationships, Community

Thursday - Career – Social Enterprise Day

Friday - Bespoke

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Click here to see an example of the planning for Post 16 Students