St Mary's College is brilliant!  It's fun to learn new skills and meet new people.  

Katie, Yr 1 student

St Mary's College was established in 1999. Since then it has grown and now offers two levels of course. Programme 1 is for students who need higher levels of support and may either be day pupils or weekly boarders. Programme 2 is for students who have generally achieved higher ‘academic' levels and have demonstrated greater independence skills. Students on Programme 2 are fortnightly boarders. St Mary's College offers a full three-year programme and guides students into the ‘world of work' or on to further training as appropriate to their individual needs. The College aims to provide a balanced curriculum which is both fun and enjoyable and helps the students develop into young adults.

The aim of St Mary's College is to prepare individual students for independent living and working to the highest level achievable by the student. The programmes are enhanced by carefully selected college courses and appropriate life experience placements. Teachers, teaching assistants, therapists and facilitators work together across the waking curriculum to fulfil this aim.

All students in The College are given the opportunity each year to participate in an educational study trip. Students learn to cope with ‘change' of routine, planning, research and preparation for the trip. As well as having a fun time students learn many of the skills required from the Life Skills Programme and the academic curriculum. Study trips have included a week's visit to Holland, a canal barge trip, living in static caravans on the Isle of Wight, visiting places of interest in North Wales and a week Youth Hostelling in Poole, Dorset.

The College Curriculum

Literacy

Students have two hour-long literacy lessons each week and there is also substantial cross-curricular literacy input. During the first year at College, Programme 2 students will be following the scheme of work for the Certificate in Adult Literacy Level 1 and entry levels where appropriate. The Certificate in Adult Literacy courses are designed to help improve performance in ‘functional' literacy: that is, practical writing and the skills that underpin it (spelling, punctuation, fluency); reading and understanding of non-literary texts, and speaking and listening. The students will be challenged with a range of targeted tasks which will help them to gain confidence and expertise as writers and as readers.

There is the possibility for each student, depending on how he or she has progressed with the course, to take an online assessment at Level 1. This assessment is structured as multiple choice questions relating to a series of short extracts.

The students will also participate in a range of activities, using a variety of materials drawn from recent newspapers, business communications, and visual representations of information. They will be encouraged to use books and computer-based sources of information.


Numeracy

Similarly to the Literacy programme, students follow the Adult Numeracy Programme Level 1 and entry levels where appropriate. The course focuses on functional use of Mathematics.  Assessments are structured in the same way as literacy.


BTEC

The BTEC Introductory Certificate is a vocational qualification. The purpose is to develop a student's practical working skills in a particular discipline, in preparation for working life. It is a level one qualification on the National Qualification Framework and is the equivalent to two GCSEs.


ICT

The programme students follow is mapped against the ECDL (European Computer Drivers Licence) allowing for the development of a broad core of computer applications and general computing knowledge and skills.  The initial part of the programme focuses on file management, safe and effective use of the Internet, and developing the use of Word to include inserting and manipulating vector and bitmap images.


Media

The Media lessons are run under the auspices of the ‘V' Project which is funded by the government to work with hard to reach young people including those who are geographically or socially isolated and those with special needs.

The students undertake a one-year course in order to achieve a silver level Keystone Award, which is a QCA recognised accreditation and is equivalent to a GCSE grades D-F.

During the Media lessons the students compile a radio programme, with each student choosing and preparing an individual contribution which they then record. They also complete a short photography course during which they take a variety of pictures including portraits, still life and photographs capturing movement. Some of these photographs are used in a newsletter which the students help to compile in the summer term.

The lessons are designed to build confidence, encourage teamwork, enhance the spectrum of learning - and also to be fun!


Art

The Year 1 classes are following an AQA Art curriculum, which enables students of all abilities to complete Units of work, of varying number across the year.

The Units are linked into particular areas of work/projects which are being taught and are completed using a variety of media.  The students will then gain an AQA Art qualification certificate for each unit completed.


Food Preparation Life Skills

St Mary's College is now following the AQA Single Unit Award Scheme.  This enables students to have accreditation for all work they complete in Food Technology.    The scheme is taught through a number of topics that focus on looking at students' skills and application of them.

We will be following a flexible plan in the first year that will allow students to put their knowledge and skills they already have into practice.

Term one - Skills - Use safely, hob, oven, microwave, toaster, kettle, blender and tin opener. Hygiene rules.

Term two - Use measuring equipment/ accuracy - jugs, scales, spoons and cups.  Organise my space.

Term three - Safety - sharp knifes, chopping boards, oven gloves, hot water or oil, dry floors, sharp tins etc.

Term four - Follow a new recipe independently. Making a hot drink. Planning a simple meal.

Term five - Co-ordination - handling equipment. Co-operation - working with peers and staff.

Term six - Revision and consolidation of skills learnt by using more complex recipes. Self- evaluation of skills learnt and skills that need to be improved.

All of these topics will have units within them and the topics link very closely to other subjects, thus providing constant revising and consolidation. Within every topic there will be a functional focus, which will include a practical assessment. 


Physical Education

Each programme and each year will be following their own structured PE curriculum. Each programme will take part in a variety of sports activities within different areas, these include invasion games, net games, target games, striking and fielding, outdoor and adventurous activities, dance, health and fitness and athletics.

Programme 1 students will mainly be assessed against a star system outlining how much progress they make and if they can complete a skill with assistance or without. Programme 2 students will be assessed more so on a number and letter scale indicating their ability in certain areas and certain skills.

Year 1 Programme 2 students will work towards gaining a leadership qualification with sports leaders UK or a St Mary's based award. By the end of year 1 they will have completed and gained accreditation in a recognised leadership award. This will then open up the opportunity to take on the Level 2 Sports Leadership Award in their Friday options group. We are also offering students the opportunity to take Dance Leaders Award on a Friday in their option groups.  Students will also gain various other opportunities to gain qualifications and experience in many sporting activities throughout the year.


Swimming

Students take part in one swimming session a week within College Education time.  Students have the opportunity to decide on what particular aspect of swimming they would like take part in, they have three options: 

Swim Fit:  This involves swimming the maximum number of lengths that they can manage in a session whilst working on their stroke technique and getting the students to become more efficient for their style of swimming. 

Water Safety:  This includes taking part in different awards that involve skills such as surface diving to collect objects, swimming in clothes, learning and demonstrating the best positions to use in cold water if the need should arise and different entries into the pool. 

Life Saving:  This includes taking part in awards ranging from our own St Mary's versions up to Bronze Medallion.  Students can change their option once they have completed awards or at the end of an academic term.


Leisure and Tourism

The Leisure and Tourism course now being followed is part of the OCR First National Awards.  Students study various aspects of the Leisure and Tourism industry, including working as part of a team in Leisure and Tourism investigating provision for Leisure and Tourism in the local area. Students receive a certificate for each unit completed and the full award for completing four units over three years. Work is assessed by an external moderator from OCR who visits the College twice a year. Students gain a basic introduction to knowledge, understanding and skills within the Leisure and Tourism sector.


Drama

St Mary's College follows the AQA Single Unit Award Scheme.  This enables students to have accreditation for all work he completes in Drama.  The scheme is taught through a number of topics that focus on looking at students' skills and application of them.

We will be following a flexible plan for the students' first year that will allow them to put the knowledge and skills they already have into practice. 

Term one/two - Improvisation - trusting yourself/others. Being there - keeping it real. Atmospheres. Adjusting scenarios. Emotions.

Term three/four - Improvisation - Activities. Objectives. Character Consolidation. Listening. Building together.

Term five/six -  Releasing the imagination. Revision and consolidation of skills learn. Produce a production. Self- evaluation of skills learnt and need to improve.

All of these topics will have units within them and the topics link very closely to other subjects, thus providing constant revising and consolidation. Within every topic there will be a functional focus, which will include a practical assessment.


Independent Travel

St Mary's believes that the ability to travel independently, either as a pedestrian or using public transport, is a key element of independence and enhances the quality of life of the learner.  It increases access to the wider community, which enables the social communication skills learned at St Mary's to be put into practice in a real context.  However, independence can and should be developed within safe environments for those learners who may not be able to access the wider community safely, in order that they enjoy their lives and achieve their potential.


Work Experience

St Mary's College Work Experience Programme aims to offer students the opportunity to work alongside local businesses, gaining both practical and interpersonal skills with a relevant level of support where necessary.

Through this programme, all students are being given the opportunity to learn new skills and strengthen their current abilities within various working environments.  Its overall purpose is to direct and prepare the students for future employment upon completion of their three year college programme.

Work Experience may be set up as a group placement whilst a number of students will be given the opportunity to work more independently within a working environment that best suits their needs and interests.


Personal, Social and Health Education

St Mary's College follows the AQA Award Scheme for Personal, Social and Health Education.  The specification content is defined by the following nine Units:

• Unit 1 Action Planning and Self Review
• Unit 2 Drugs Education
• Unit 3 Sex and Relationship Education
• Unit 4 Personal Finance
• Unit 5 Emotional Wellbeing
• Unit 6 Healthy Lifestyle
• Unit 7 Making Informed Career Choices
• Unit 8 Applying for Jobs and Courses
• Unit 9 Relationships, Behaviour and Practices in the Workplace

PSHE is delivered via a ‘carousel' arrangement where a class moves on to new tutors to study each different topic to develop their personal skills in team working. Students have one lesson a week.

Independent Living

The ethos of the waking curriculum is continued and enhanced in the college residential houses. Students requiring more support live on the main site. Students in the more independent group are resident in two residential houses situated in Bexhill town. Here they have the

opportunities to develop, rehearse and be accredited for independence skills learnt in context.

Students learn to cook for themselves by having to plan and prepare their meals daily. They also learn to handle money and keep to a budget. Students learn the full range of domestic skills by doing their own laundry and looking after the house. They learn to use local amenities by making appointments and using local services including the dentist, optician, library and leisure centres.

Students plan their leisure time including every second weekend for those who fortnightly board. Students are supported to engage fully and learn to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.

Therapy in The College

The College has its own designated Therapists: this includes Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Physiotherapists. We also have input from the Clinical Psychologist and Art Psychotherapist employed for the whole of St Mary's.

Our aim is to integrate all the therapy into the full waking curriculum, which focuses on developing the students' functional and independence skills to their full potential.

This is delivered in various ways, according to students' individual needs, but may include:

1. Weekly Therapy Group: This is a weekly timetabled session lasting usually 1 hour. It is run jointly by an Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist. This focuses broadly on developing the students' social and pragmatic skills. Students achieve accreditation for this work through the ‘English Speaking Board.'

2. Classroom support: Many of the lessons are supported by a Therapist within the College. All support is jointly planned with teachers prior to the lesson.

3. Residential House support: All the Therapists work closely with the Facilitators in the residential houses. This includes developing personal care, domestic skills, independent travel skills and communication skills within the community.

4. Work experience:  Therapists are fully involved in the work experience programme - this includes preparing the students for interview; liaising with employers; practising the skills involved in particular tasks.

5. Individual sessions: Students continue to receive individual support if appropriate.

6. Attendance at tutor planning meetings: All Therapists attend these weekly meetings to ensure there is a holistic approach to understanding the needs of students.