For many of our learners FE colleges are unable to provide for them beyond a certain level of need and can mark the closure of what could be an ambitious and aspirational future.

Unlike their typical peers:

• Fewer than 1 in 4 young people with an autism spectrum disorder progress to any form of education or training following school;
• Our young people often miss out on the opportunity to continue to develop their learning skills;
• Fewer than 1 in 7 of our young people will ever gain employment.

We aim to challenge these less than positive statistics.

We took national statistics and compared them with some of our own Year 11 leavers from recent years who had gone on to college without specialist support such as ours. We also talked to both ex-pupils and their parents. In general, they found the facilities in local colleges good but they found their experience stressful and worrying at times often due to the lack of understanding of their autism and associated anxiety. Some colleges failed to give a specific ‘named person’ for their child to refer to and others became ‘poor attenders’ due to lack of adequate supervision and support.

These comments have helped us to shape the college experience we are offering and one that our young people have the right to choose. Our 6th Form provides each learner with the experience they enjoy and the outcomes they deserve.

We are also there to prepare and support them beyond college and post 19 – into higher education or a vocational placement wherever possible.