Post 16 Autumn Term
English
Maths
PE
PSHE
Volunteering
Community Engagement
Work Experience
College Links
Home Management
Employability
Social & Emotional Skills
Post 16 Autumn Term English
Post-16 Year 1
The first half of the Autumn term focuses on “Cultures and Characters.” Students will explore folk tales, fables, and stories from faraway places, including Anansi (West African), Cú Chulainn (Irish), Aladdin (Middle Eastern), and Peter and the Wolf (Russian). This unit helps students understand how different cultures use storytelling to share values and teach lessons.
In the second half of term, students will enjoy “Tales to Warm the Heart,” reading short stories and winter tales. This will include reviewing “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and exploring what makes certain stories comforting and engaging during the winter season.
Post-16 Year 2
Year 2 begins with “Brave New (Digital) World,” exploring how technology has changed the way we communicate, work, and live. Students will develop their digital literacy skills and learn about staying safe and effective in online environments.
In the second half of Autumn, students will study “Story Songs and Ballads,” exploring how narrative and music combine to create powerful emotional experiences. They’ll analyse lyrics, discuss storytelling techniques, and appreciate how songs can preserve cultural stories.
Post 16 Autumn Term Maths
In Post-16, pupils are encouraged to take greater ownership of their learning as they continue working towards the qualification pathway that best suits their needs. They will learn strategies to help them solve problems, such as:
- Using concrete resources, drawing diagrams, or underlining key vocabulary
- Explaining how they reached their answer and understanding that there can be different ways to solve the same question
This term, pupils will focus on using the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) to solve a range of problems. They will also apply their knowledge to questions involving:
- Shape
- Measures
- Time
- Money
- Data handling
These skills will help pupils become more independent and confident in applying Maths to real-life situations.
Post 16 Autumn Term PE
This term, pupils will take part in a variety of activities, including football, swimming, gymnastics, games, and fitness.
In team games, the focus will be on tactical awareness, teamwork, and decision-making, helping pupils improve both individual skills and group performance.
Swimming lessons will continue to develop stroke technique, build endurance, and teach important self-rescue skills for water safety.
Gymnastics sessions will help pupils improve balance, coordination, and control as they explore movement sequences and body management skills.
Health and fitness activities will introduce pupils to different training methods, the concept of progressive overload, and how to prevent injuries—building a strong foundation for lifelong fitness.
Post 16 Autumn Term PSHE
Autumn 1 – Being Me in My World
Students will learn about their role in the school community and why inclusion matters. They’ll explore ideas like democracy, responsibility, and rights, and understand how group decisions are made through things like the school council and class charters. This helps them see how their actions affect others and why working together is important.
Autumn 2 – Celebrating Difference
This unit focuses on diversity, respect, and anti-bullying. Students will think about assumptions people sometimes make based on appearance, discuss the impact of stereotypes, and learn how to recognise and respond to bullying. They’ll also explore what makes each person unique and why it’s important to value and accept differences.
Post 16 Autumn Term Volunteering
Building Skills through Volunteering
As part of our Post-16 curriculum, volunteering plays an important role in preparing students for adulthood. It gives them real-world experiences outside the classroom while helping them develop independence, confidence, and life skills.
Through volunteering, students learn responsibility, teamwork, and communication while making a positive contribution to the community. These experiences help build self-esteem, create social connections, and develop practical skills that support future employment and independent living. Volunteering also encourages empathy and an understanding of different roles in society.
This term, students will:
- Visit Dove Café and Beaconsfield Heights to help with community activities.
- Support One Can Trust, a local food bank.
- Take part in projects around school.
- Work with Chiltern Rangers on environmental tasks.
These opportunities are invaluable for personal growth and preparing for life beyond school.
Post 16 Autumn Term Community Engagement
We provide opportunities for students to take part in activities outside the classroom to help them grow in confidence, learn new skills, and experience real-world situations. These activities support social, physical, and creative development while encouraging teamwork and independence.
This term, students will enjoy a variety of experiences, including:
- Martial Arts – building strength, coordination, and self-discipline.
- Dance – promoting fitness, creativity, and self-expression.
- Gardening – learning responsibility and caring for the environment.
- Art and Design Projects – using Cricut technology to create items for our Christmas Fayre.
These experiences help students feel part of the community, celebrate their talents, and develop resilience and life skills.
Post 16 Autumn Term Work Experience
Work Experience – Preparing Students for Life Beyond School
At Alfriston, we carefully plan work experience to help students build confidence and develop skills for life after school. Every placement is discussed with pastoral tutors and through the EHCP process to make sure it’s the right fit for each student.
Independent Placements
When a student is ready for an independent placement, parents help find a suitable opportunity. This is then checked and approved by Alfriston. Once agreed, students attend their placement one day a week (usually Monday or Friday) for the whole academic year.
This builds on the Year 11 group work experience, where students worked together in local businesses.
Supported Work Experience
For students who are not yet ready for independence, we provide group placements so everyone can continue learning employability skills in a supportive environment. Our supported pathway offers two exciting options:
Chiltern Rangers – Habitat Rangers
This course focuses on practical habitat and woodland management with a strong conservation purpose. Students learn skills such as scrub cutting, tree popping, and safe use of tools like loppers and saws. Activities include:
- Fire starting and management
- Tree planting and laurel cutting
- Using a chipper to process material and maintain paths
- Coppicing and hedgerow maintenance
- Orchard and pond care
These hands-on tasks help students understand the importance of conservation and support rare species like the Duke of Burgundy butterfly. The course works towards ASDAN Lifeskills accreditation.
World of Work
This course introduces students to the workplace through practical activities and theory. They learn essential skills such as:
- Communication, teamwork, and leadership
- Customer service and hospitality practices
- Health and safety and personal hygiene
- Volunteering and community engagement
Students also gain real-world experience through local projects and complete two AQA qualifications:
- Customer Service in the Hospitality Industry (Unit 4)
- Volunteering on an Intergenerational Community Project
These qualifications provide valuable credentials alongside practical experience.
Post 16 Autumn Term College Links
College Experience – BCA
Across the first two terms, students will take part in a variety of outdoor and horticultural activities that help them learn practical skills, work as a team, and understand the environment.
Term 1 includes:
- Exploring the college grounds with an estate walk and learning to identify trees.
- Practical tasks like pruning and planting sweet pea seeds and snowdrop bulbs.
- A visit to the zoo.
- Woodland management activities such as thinning trees and protecting young saplings.
- Finishing the term with festive crafts using willow.
Term 2 includes:
- Building bird boxes and planting trees.
- More zoo visits.
- Learning about plant biology through flower dissection and pollination studies.
- Visiting farms during lambing and calving season.
- Planting seeds such as marigolds, cosmos, petunias, and potatoes.
Students will also get used to the BCA college environment and routines, including having lunch there. These experiences help prepare them for future opportunities and build confidence in new settings.
Post 16 Autumn Term Home Management
Home Management – Building Independent Living Skills
This term, Post-16 students will focus on practical skills to help them prepare for living independently. Weekly lessons include:
- Planning and Organisation – Creating personal schedules and routines.
- Budgeting – Learning how to manage money for groceries and bills.
- Meal Planning and Shopping – Preparing menus and completing a real or simulated shopping trip.
- Cooking and Kitchen Safety – Using appliances safely and making simple meals.
- Laundry and Household Tasks – Practising routines for washing and caring for clothes.
- Understanding Bills – Learning how to pay bills and manage household expenses.
The term ends with a project called “My Independent Life”, where students reflect on what they’ve learned and showcase their progress. These activities help build confidence and prepare students for real-world independence.
Post 16 Autumn Term Employability
Our Post-16 Employability programme is designed to give students the practical skills and confidence they need for life after school. They’ll learn what makes a successful job interview, practice key techniques, and develop strong communication skills to help them feel prepared and professional.
Students will also think about what it means to be a good team player and how to build those qualities. They’ll identify their own strengths and skills and learn how these can match different career paths.
The programme covers what a typical working week might look like, including different shift patterns and the balance between paid work and volunteering.
A big focus is financial literacy. Students will explore the cost of everyday living—from groceries to bigger expenses like housing and transport—and learn how salaries link to lifestyle choices. They’ll also practice budgeting and saving strategies to manage money effectively.
Through all these activities, students are encouraged to reflect on their goals and plan for a future that is both fulfilling and sustainable.