Vocational Pathway
The school’s Vocational Pathway curriculum refers to educational or training programs designed to provide pupils with practical, work-related skills and qualifications in a specific vocational area to prepare them for future employment or further education. It offers an alternative curriculum to the traditional academic routes and include, hands-on training, and development of essential employability and life skills tailored to individual interests and aspirations (alongside the core subject offer of English and Mathematics).
Benefits of Vocational Pathway:
- The pupil’s strengths are not being developed through the national curriculum. The vocational provision recognises that pupils have different strengths and weaknesses and that current curriculum offer of education is not suitable for some.
- The pupil has had one or more fixed-term exclusion and is considered to be at risk of permanent exclusion from school. Alternative pathway is seen as a desirable alternative to permanent exclusion for pupils and to encourage their continued inclusion in education.
- The pupil has not been attending school regularly and is therefore unlikely to achieve GCSEs. The alternative pathway offers a different setting with a vocational choice of subjects for pupils, which may encourage attendance.
- Decrease the number of pupils on part-time timetables, as an appropriate curriculum offer can be delivered to meet need.
- Review the current school-based curriculum and staffing allocation in order to consider increasing the whole school PAN
- Prepare pupils for future pathways (appropriate to need and aspirations), proving the necessary accreditations for the career pathway into vocational course, apprenticeship or employment. (KS4 pupils)
Placements
All commissioned provisions are required to provide the following documentation before a pupil can access the provision:
- Letter of assurance
- Service Level Agreement
- Risk Assessments
- Insurance documents (Public Liability/car, if transporting pupils on trips etc.)
- Driving licence check (online sharing)
- Enhanced DBS clearance (for all staff)
- Safeguarding training (for all staff)
- Relevant qualifications (for all staff)
- Policies (including safeguarding)
- Contact Information
- Course/Qualifications offered
- Placement Declaration signed
The Vocational Pathway Lead oversees the quality assurance process supported by the Assistant Headteacher. This due diligence ensures that the provision is of suitable quality and to ensure that policies and procedures are in place.
The Vocational Pathway Lead also has the responsibility for developing links to new providers, building relationships with their staff, monitoring the placement, relationships between staff and the pupils, and the quality and standards of the work produced. The lead also maintains regular contact and communication with parents and provisions. Each pupil produces a file of evidence illustrating the work they have completed on their offsite placements and both pupils and staff complete a pro forma to evidence progress made.
Referral Process:
- The school will use the DfE publication ‘Arranging Alternative Provision’ (February 2025) as a basis for planning for vocational pathway.
- Parent/carer will be fully involved in the process and any decisions are taken.
- Pupils who are referred to vocational pathway will remain on roll with Oakfield School and the school funds their place in vocational pathway. The school remains ultimately responsible for the pupil, and the offer of the vocational pathway shows a commitment by the school to an inclusive approach to the pupil’s education.
- Oakfield School will set up a meeting involving all relevant parties, including parents/carers and others as appropriate.
The school’s SENCO responsible for Health & Safety and the Designated Safeguarding Lead will visit the placements annually. The school’s Assistant Headteacher responsible for Curriculum will ensure the work is age/ability appropriate and to ensure that providers are fulfilling their obligation to provide the highest level of education and support to all pupils involved.
Placements
Orchard Training:
- Construction – Level 1 Award/Certificate in Multi-trade Construction, Bricklaying, Carpentry and Joinery (potential pathway to Post 16, traineeship or apprenticeships).
Fast Forward:
- Foundation Motor Vehicle Studies
- Level 1 BTEC Construction
- Level 1 BTEC Hair & Beauty
BeYOU Hair & Beauty
- Hair & Beauty
- Catering
- Life Skills
Wild Intervention:
- Oakfield School use this provision as an internal Education Otherwise than at School (EOTAS) package (funded by LA outside of the Education Health and Care Plan funding)
Kip McGrath:
- English
- Mathematics
East Riding College
- Level 1 – Motor Mechanics