It is often difficult to explain exactly how we help and support the young people who come to be with us at Oakwood School. But we thought this story of a young person (K) is well worth sharing and highlights many of the features of the work we do.
K was a “hard to reach” young person with challenging behaviours, placed with us this academic year by Leicester City. We decided K would benefit from being on one of our new bespoke packages….where the needs of the young person are at the centre of designing an education provision and we go above and beyond to deliver life changing outcomes. K’s story evidences the success he had engaging with that approach. His story is also testament to the skill of his tutor, Jason, and his ability to engage and work creatively with K. Jason was supported by the whole team at the school whose faith in both he and K has been repaid many times over.
This is a great success story, and we want to publicly thank K and Jason for their commitment and hard work.
The story is perhaps best told in Jason’s own words…
“This is a little map of how K has progressed with us.
K came onto school role on 23rd August, 2021. We began searching for an alternative provision suitable for K and his needs, and one that would help him grow as an individual. K was struggling to engage with adults and found it difficult to be available for education, frequently refusing to be available to meet. Finally, on 1stNovember, K met with myself and Warren, his previous school’s staff members, and his Key workers, to design a plan for us to work together, to help him.
I was able to engage straight away with K. With only 8 months left of secondary education, the goal was to achieve more than K ever thought was possible. My plan was to help him create a path where he would be able to take opportunities to showcase his skills and talents and to use those to progress his future.
Throughout November and December I worked with K 3 days a week.
Monday’s were to build confidence and social skills – to go into and around his community and to engage with different people.
Tuesday’s were for K to work with a specialist tutor, and myself, on his Maths and English, preparing him for his exams.
Thursday’s were to discuss possible careers opportunities that we could tap into, as well as wider career paths and how he might achieve them.
In January 2022 I helped K apply for many different jobs. I helped K gain a job at a local chip shop to help build his customer service skills and confidence. K started this job in February. Through January I worked with K on mock interviews and how to conduct himself in and around new people.
To build on his computing interests, K also started on an IT course to gain a qualification in coding.
K is passionate about trains. In late December I found an opportunity with Network Rail, for K to enter a competition with an apprenticeship on offer for the winner. From an application field of over 100 entrants, whittled down to 50, then 20, K was selected to be in the final 3 for the Network Rail competition. On February 22nd K attended the interview.
I am proud that in such a short space of time K has developed into the confident young person who was able to speak with two of the panel judges for Network Rail. He introduced himself and talked well and appropriately through the interview for over an hour. With his newly gained confidence he was able to express himself and conduct himself very well. He did so well that Network Rail have arranged to meet again with him at the school to chat about what they could offer him in the future.”
This is a fantastic example of best practice and a great story of a young man being helped by a dedicated staff member and team to grow and become a confident and contributing member of society. We wish K all the best for the future and are sure that he will continue to progress and develop so that he can fulfil his potential.