Towards Independence
Welcome to Towards Independence, a course designed specifically for students with learning young people with learning differences or barriers and anxieties around learning, who may face challenges transitioning to college. We understand the importance of a supportive environment, which is why our program offers a flexible curriculum tailored to individual needs. Our focus is on preparing every young person for adulthood, equipping them with essential skills for both working life and independent living.
Course Curriculum
The course focuses on Preparing for Adulthood Outcomes
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Education and Employment
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Friends, Relationships and Community
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Independent Living
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Good Health
Learners will study:
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Functional skills English and maths
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Certificate in Pre-Vocational Studies (BTEC)
All learners will have the opportunity to:
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Access the community
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Travel Training
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Enrichment activities such as animal care, sports, art.
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Develop independent living skills eg. cooking, cleaning, money management
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Learn about healthy living and lifestyles
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Develop employability skills
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Access the gym and a range of sports activities
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Art for wellbeing sessions
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Work placements
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Make friends and manage social relationships
Most importantly, our students will have the opportunity to try new things and have fun...
In order to ensure our learners have an effective and smooth transition to the college, our transition programme includes:
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Meetings with the learner, parents, carers, school staff and external agencies, to establish a close liaison and a partnership approach
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School or specialist provider observations and transition information
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Attending EHCP annual review meetings and multi-agency meetings
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Planning a personalised transition programme with the learner
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Familiarisation days and taster sessions
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Collaboration with relevant agencies
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School visits
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Specialist support
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Initial Needs Assessments to gather full information
1:3
LEARNER RATIO
RESPECT THRIVE ACHIEVE
We are enormously proud of our students
In 2023-24, our learners were enrolled for 96 qualifications and achieved a 93% pass rate.
Sometimes learners are not ready to take exams in their first year so we can enrol them for RARPA (Recognising and Recording Progress and Acheivement) where there are no end of year exams, and they use the year to build up their confidence and skills.
Ultimately, our differentiated and personalised curriculum is tailored to stretch and challenge our learners to reach their full potential.
93%
PASS RATE
Work Experience is an essential part of our curriculum.We want our students to contribute with confidence...
Work Experience
All learners in their second year study for a Entry Level 2 BTEC, and take part in work experience.
All work placements happen outside college time, on either Tuesdays or Fridays and will normally be a weekly slot which will continue for 6 – 10 weeks. We do our best to match our learners to their interests and to their future job aspirations. We have developed good links with local organisations and employers and can offer a wide range of placements that cover areas such as: administration, child care, animals,maintenance and construction, gardening and hospitality.
As a community hub, our home at The Park Centre makes us well placed to access 20+ resident organisations, as well as connecting us to the wider community organisations and businesses of South Bristol and beyond.
Art, crafts, music, animals, culture and creativity is crucial to our learning experience...
Enrichment
Enrichment describes the rich and varied non-academic part of the course, where learners can develop new skills, try out new activities and grow their soft skills such as communication, team work, problem solving and adaptability.
This includes a variety of sports and games such as football, swimming, BMXing, Boccia, cricket and table cricket, dodgeball, keepfit, dance and gym sessions. Most of these can be tailored to make sure they are inclusive to all our learners, whatever their ability or skill level.
It also includes:
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art and crafts – painting, model making, printing, collage
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animal care – we have our own collection of small animals which learners help to look after
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music – playing a variety of instruments, creating music online, drumming
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trips – to parks, visitor attractions and city landmarks, often using trains and buses
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performance – we have a termly Park’s Got Talent contest – anything goes!
In all of these activities, we watch our learners become more confident and grow in self esteem.
Mental health and wellbeing is a key pillar of our work. Music, speech, sensory and animal therapy play a part in taking care of our students...
Mental Health & Wellbeing
We run a Wellbeing Wednesday every week where we run activities and therapies that focus on learner mental health and wellbeing – these include Speech and Language Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Emotional Literacy Sessions and Sensory workshops. Where need has been greatest, we have also linked with specialist organisations such as HorseWorld, to provide equine therapy through weekly hands on sessions with their horses.
Every group also has a weekly enrichment afternoon where learners can choose an activity that they enjoy doing, from a selection of activity options. For learners that need a quiet and calm space during their day, we have a small Sensory room with lighting, blankets, books, games and fidget toys.
We provide a supportive learning environment across all areas, and our high staff to learner ratios of 1:3 allow us to be reactive to daily changes in the wellbeing of our learners.
What's on offer...
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Wellbeing Wednesday
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Enrichment activities
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Sensory room
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Emotional literacy
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Music therapy
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Art therapy
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Placements such as HorseWorld
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Good staffing ratios
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Good relationships with families
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Supportive learning environment across all areas
We aim to nourish the whole person during their time at our college.
Destinations
For our second year learners, most move on to further education. Many of them start courses at one of the City of Bristol College sites.
Nearly all of our first year learners stay on for a second year.
Between 2023 - 2025, at the end of their course here at The Park College an impressive 79% continue into further education.
And 55% go to South Bristol Skills Academy.
We couldn’t be more proud of our students and their achievements. We watch them overcome challenges, take on new skills, and grow in ways they never imagined. Whether it’s returning to education after a long break, learning new things, or simply finding the confidence to take that next step, every achievement is hard-earned and deeply felt.
It's always hard to say goodbye to our students at our end of term party, but it’s a beautiful reminder that while their time at Park College may be ending, the impact they’ve made — on us, and on each other — will last a lifetime. They arrive as caterpillars, uncertain and full of potential. They leave as butterflies — confident, capable, and ready to fly into the next chapter of their lives.
Ready to have a look around and check out the magic of the Park College?
PROCEED INTO FURTHER EDUCATION
79%
70%
