What do we do?
At Walton Hall Academy preparation for adulthood (PfA) is central to everything that we do. We take the time to get to know, listen to and build positive relationships with each of our students to understand their strengths, challenges, and ambitions, and we tailor our support to help each of them grow. Through PfA lessons we nurture our students to support them to develop knowledge, confidence, and practical skills that prepare them for life beyond school, helping them to become independent and capable individuals who can contribute meaningfully to their communities and to enable them to flourish in their adult lives.
The four strands of the Preparation for Adulthood framework (Employment, Independent Living, Community Inclusion and Health) are embedded into PfA lessons, our residential curriculum, our personal development offer, and throughout all timetabled lessons.
How do we do it?
At Walton Hall Academy, PfA is embedded across our curriculum and school life, guiding students to grow the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need for life beyond school. Through our Independence curriculum we focus on practical skills like self-care, cooking, budgeting, and travel training. Through our Careers curriculum we provide our students with hands-on work experience, opportunities to meet employers, and support to plan their next steps. Alongside this, our PSHE curriculum nurtures resilience, the ability to form healthy and safe relationships, encouraging students to question the world around them and providing them with the social and emotional tools to navigate the wider world.
Why do we do it?
The impact of our PfA programme is evident in the progress students make during their time at Walton Hall Academy. Our students develop the skills to manage everyday tasks and make choices about their own future. Our curriculum supports the development of social skills, resilience, and practical abilities, helping our students to approach challenges with more confidence. While every student’s journey is different, our PfA curriculum enables them to leave our school better prepared for a positive and happy future, whether that be further education, work, or other opportunities, and with the ability to approach their next steps with greater knowledge, independence and self-belief.
