Welcome to our college and post-19 provision
Welcome to our College, a unique residential and day provision for Deaf young people who use British Sign Language (BSL), or oral English and may also have additional needs. We support students in a language-rich environment and encourage them to discover and choose their first language. Our students’ learning is mapped out with learning pathways which have been individually tailored to them, taking into account their ambitions, abilities and needs. We encourage their independence and help support them towards their career aspirations.
We welcome you to come and see our College, meet current Post-16 and Post-19 learners and explore all the educational opportunities offered here at the Academy. If you haven’t been here before, please take the opportunity to see for yourself the high quality education we offer – contact us at admissions@thedeafacademy.ac.uk to arrange a visit.
Our curriculum
The intent of our curriculum is based in Preparing for Adulthood with communication woven throughout so that young people leave the Deaf Academy ready to;
- live as independent young adults
- contribute to their local community
- contribute to their local economy
- be healthy
- be confident
- have a strong sense of Deaf identity
Our curriculum is organised into 5 strands with Preparation for Adulthood and Communication at its heart. The areas are;
- Communication
- Employment
- Independent Living
- Community, Friends and Relationships
- Health and Wellbeing
These areas are taught directly and indirectly through a mixture of timetabled lessons, impact days, therapeutic interventions and curriculum enrichment opportunities.
Our curriculum is adaptable to personalisation. The blend of every student’s curriculum changes over the course of their programme depending on a variety of factors.
College formal pathway
Within our formal pathway there are 4 strands; Explorer, Navigator and Discoverer.
Explorer- Students on this pathway continue with Core qualifications in Maths, English and BSL from Entry Level 2 to GCSE or equivalent. Students also have a choice of attending classes in art, cooking, Enterprise, PSHE, ICT and Media to help develop their ideas of career choices and pathways to employment. Students undertake work placements in an area of interest to enable them to develop their work skills.
Navigator- This second-year pathway is for college students who want to advance with vocational learning at one of our partner colleges. Students on this pathway complete college qualifications with nearby Bicton or Exeter College, with the aid of Communication Support Workers (CSW’s) who attend their lessons. Students receive timetabled Maths and English lessons in the Academy that aid their learning, linked to their chosen course.
Discoverer- This pathway has taken a Deaf student-centred approach and is designed to prepare them for adulthood. It is aimed at preparing students to become successful and confident young adults. It focuses on four main areas including employability, independence, community links and health. The curriculum supports Deaf young adults to make informed decisions about their future and helps them explore career choices. It helps them become more confident in growing independently by developing key skills such as money management and how to travel confidently.
Trailblazers-
College semi formal pathway
Within our semi formal pathway there are 3 strands; Adventurer, Pathfinder and Pioneer.
Adventurer- This pathway helps young people develop independent skills, we encourage ‘learning through doing’. Students learn in a combination of formal classes and functional lessons within the community. Students will receive work placements that prepare them for employment settings so that they can develop interests that may lead to careers or hobbies.
Pathfinder- This pathway aims to prepare young adults for their next steps to adulthood and enable them to make a successful transition to supported living and/or supported employment. Students will continue to develop the key skills and knowledge for life including travel training, independent living skills, communication in the wider community and work experience. They will have opportunities to continue with vocational qualifications such as OCR Life and Living Skills Entry Level 1-3, in preparation for supported work placements.
Pioneers-This pathway is similar to the Pathfinders programme but for students with particular strengths in one or more area of their EHCP. The programme is designed to prepare young adults for their next steps to adulthood. They will have opportunities to continue with vocational qualifications such as OCR Life and Living Skills Entry Level 1-3, alongside multiple supported work placements.