Post-16 education

Young people must continue in education or training until the end of the academic year when they turn 18. This could involve:

1. full time study in a school, college or training provider
2. an apprenticeship or supported internship
3. full time work or volunteering (20 hours or more) combined with part time accredited study

There are a range of post-16 providers in Newcastle and in nearby local authorities. The list below is not exhaustive and may change.

Post-16 college and training providers

Sixth form Colleges

• Newcastle Sixth Form College (Learning Support Team)
• Gosforth Academy Sixth Form
• Excelsior Academy Sixth Form
• Jesmond Park Academy Sixth Form
• Kenton School Sixth Form
• North East Futures UTC
• Sacred Heart Catholic High School Sixth Form
• St Cuthbert’s High School Sixth Form
• St Mary’s Catholic High School Sixth Form
• Walbottle Sixth Form

Mainstream colleges 

Mainstream colleges will support students with special educational needs by following a Graduated Approach or Assess, Plan, Do and Review cycle. There will be a named person in charge of support for students with SEN.

The students’ Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and plans and the effectiveness of their support will be reviewed annually, and the college should take into account:

• progress and changes to the young person’s ambitions and aspirations
• the college and young person should jointly plan any changes to support
• the young person’s pathway into adulthood and progression beyond college learning onto employment, higher education, or lifelong experiences

Specialist post 16 provision

Some students and their families will seek education placements in a specialist post 16 provision. The local authority is only able to support a specialist post 16 provision when there is clear case for a young person’s needs cannot be met in a mainstream post 16 provision and all local mainstream further education options have been fully explored and discounted.

There are several independent specialist colleges around the country which provide day and residential education programmes for young people with complex learning difficulties and / or disabilities, who require a high level of expertise and support to transition into adulthood.

The Department for Education website includes a list of independent special schools and colleges, including those approved in the Section 41 of the Children and Families Act.

These placements must be agreed at the local authorities Education, Health and Care (EHC) panel as part of the EHC process. 

The Newcastle SEND Information Advice and Support Service (IASS) can be contacted for further advice and guidance regarding specialist provision.