Our post-16 offer
Key facts about our post-16 facilities:
- Specialist classrooms
- Modern, multi-sensory dance and drama studio
- Very well-equipped performance theatre space
- Art room
- Music centre
- Newly refurbished catering-standard teaching kitchen
- Newly refurbished, student-designed cafeteria and dining room
- Outdoor leisure area
- Sensory classroom
- Currently developing a business enterprise facility where students can learn about the office environment and develop their entrepreneurial skills
Post-16 education at Woodlands
Our sixth form, the largest of all The National Autistic Society's schools, is large enough to cater to a wide range of interests. One of the reasons we have so many students is that we are known for our success in encouraging young people of all abilities to do well.
Inside Woodlands Building
We use our impressive full-height atrium as a place for everyone to gather and socialise in accordance with public health protocols. This is also a space that is used as a wonderful gallery for the art our students produce. The hall transforms into a theatre where annual performances are held. We also use it daily for dance, yoga and PE activities.
This hall also houses a very inspiring resource – our 3D floor projector. It creates interactive shapes and music for students to respond to and provides all the lighting for our theatre performances.
Our facilities include:
- Classrooms arranged around the hall - the space in each classroom is used flexibly to create an autism-friendly environment
- A multi-sensory dance and drama room with a special dance floor which is in constant use as part of our popular performing arts curriculum
- A bright airy café, with small lights set into the floor to guide students from the door to the counter
- A modern, stainless steel kitchen, set up as a teaching area for our students, with a computer screen at each station so that they can follow cooking instructions
- A well-lit art room containing a great range of materials
- A music room offering all the instruments and recording facilities you could wish for
Outside Woodlands Building
Outside, we have created a calm, secluded courtyard and sensory area, providing a relaxing space for your young person. There is also a brand new communal area where we are in the process of creating an outdoor gym in consultation with the students.
We are within a few minutes’ walk of the centre of Acton, with its busy shops, leisure facilities, parks, public transport possibilities, market and cafés. We offer your young person every opportunity to get out and about in Acton, with our support, perhaps taking part in selling items on our market stall or building their confidence in using tubes and buses and shopping for things they need.
"It’s a really nice place! Give it a go!"
"I feel it’s a bit grown up. I like it because it’s a big space, there are lots of trips and I have the opportunity to be a choreographer."
Our curriculum
The curriculum we offer here is highly personalised to each of our young people, to help prepare them for adult life. Their individual timetables are linked to their key skills, and we place each student in a small, compatible tutor group of between five and eight young people.
As with our main school at Havelock, our sixth form always uses age-appropriate resources and approaches. Your young person will continue to be taught PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education), communication skills and physical skills.
We also offer strong vocational education. We put great emphasis on key life skills and constantly develop work experience opportunities in partnership with local businesses.
Each activity is taught as part of your child’s planned programme of study. There is a clear progression of skills and knowledge, based on structured assessment systems.
The performing arts
Here at Sybil Elgar we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding performing arts curriculum.
We find that learning dance, art and music attracts the attention and interest of our young people and is a very effective way to develop their academic and practical ability. Your young person will be participating in a curriculum that inspires them and helps to prepare them for adult life.
We have active links with other SEN schools working in the performing arts, and with specialist dance companies in London.
Curriculum enrichment
Your young person will have access to many curriculum enriching activities. Visting the gym is a regular activity, as are sports like swimming and climbing. Trips to cafés and restaurants are regular occurrences, too.
We also take groups of young people away to enjoy a night out camping, or for a day at the seaside.
Post-16 qualifications at Sybil Elgar
OCR examinations
OCR is a UK awarding body offering a wide range of externally moderated courses. Some of our students have completed courses at GCSE and A Level, such as Music, Art, Geography and History.
OCR courses can be taken at certificate, advanced certificate and diploma level. All our students in the sixth form have the opportunity to complete these courses depending on suitability.
Life and Living skills
Students for whom working towards independent living skills is a more appropriate option, some of the externally moderated courses we offer are in the following areas:
Entry level 1 - 3 Arts and crafts
Entry level 1 - 3 Communication
Entry level 1 - 3 Environment and community
Entry level 1 - 3 Home management
Entry level 1 - 3 ICT
Entry level 1 - 3 Numeracy
Entry level 1 - 3 Personal skills
Entry level 1 - 3 World of work