The New Eccles Hall School is aware that some students need more time and support to achieve their full potential and the Compass Programme provides a varied curriculum to enable them to achieve success.

The Key Skills subjects are offered alongside a variety of BTEC vocational subjects and life skills topics. The Compass Programme at The New Eccles Hall School Sixth Form delivers the potential for students to achieve the equivalent of up to eight GCSE passes at grade A* - C, through the integration of a number of schemes of work.

BTEC First Certificates and Diplomas are offered in

• Sport & Outdoor Pursuits

• Art & Design

• Countryside & The Environment

• Child Care

These courses have a high element of practical assessment and reward consistent effort. In addition practical vocational courses are also provided to complement the chosen path of study.

One of the core goals of the school is to equip students to be able to participate fully in society and to succeed and achieve. To achieve this aim, a Life Skills course is offered alongside academic studies.

Key Skills & Wider Key Skills

Key Skills are skills that are commonly needed for success in a range of activities in education and training, work and life in general. They are:

• Communication

• Information and Communication Technology

• Application of Number

• Working with Others

• Improving Own Learning and Performance

• Problem Solving

Evidence for the Key Skills may be drawn from work undertaken within: BTEC; GCSE; GCE; AVCE; GNVQ and NVQ Qualifications; ASDAN programmes; Work Experience; employment; voluntary; or youth work.

Who are they for?

The Key Skills qualifications aim to develop and recognise each candidate’s ability to apply these skills in ways that are appropriate to different contexts and to improve the quality of their learning and performance. They are intended for everyone, from pupils in schools to chief executives in large companies.

Status

At level 2, each key skill and wider key skill equates to half of one GCSE at Grade A* - C, upon completion of the complete course students leave the Sixth Form with the equivalent of three additional GCSE’s.

Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE)

Life skills are studied through the CoPE framework. Students develop and demonstrate a range of skills by undertaking a wide variety of challenges and tasks from modules such as Communication, The Environment, Independent Living, Work Related Learning and Enterprise and International Issues.

Each student produces a portfolio of work, customised to target their strengths, that provides evidence of working with others, improving learning and performance, problem solving, planning and carrying out research, communicating through discussion and giving an oral presentation.

CoPE Modules

• Communication

• Citizenship and Community

• Sport and Leisure

• Independent Living

• The Environment

• Vocational Preparation

• Health and Fitness

• Work Related Learning and Enterprise

• Science and Technology

• International Links

• Expressive Arts

• Beliefs and Values

On successful completion of sufficient tasks to gain 12 credits, students are awarded a CoPE Level 2 Certificate. The course will allow students to recognise their personal achievements, manage their own learning, broaden their experiences and develop employability skills.

Assessment is continuous throughout assignments. A range of assessment methods are used including written tasks, group and individual presentations, reports, video analysis and practical skill observations. All units are assessed, graded and internally verified. A sample of units is then externally verified. An overall grade for the qualification is then awarded according to the accumulative score of all units achieved.

Vocational Training

A vital element of the Compass Programme at The New Eccles Hall School Sixth Form is the provision of appropriate vocational training to further enhance the individuals employability within their chosen field.