The Ad Astra Post-16 programme is comprised of a core curriculum of English, Maths, Personal and Social Development (PSHE) and Practical Conservation
alongside three vocational options of Construction, Mechanics, Land Based Studies.
Students are assessed at their start of their Post 16 provision. We cater for GCSEs and Functional Skills including Entry Levels.
Land Based Studies
We invest a great deal of time and effort into our young people with some of them benefiting from over 6 years of education and training with Ad Astra.
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The skills they obtain are used to carry out practical tasks and enable them to gain employment, earn money and become independent young adults.
We currently contract for the Canal and River Trust, Natural England and City of York Council.
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We have been working on maintaining York’s "green spaces" by clearing ponds, coppicing woodland, removing litter, repairing boundaries, creating habitat for native species and building an array of bird boxes from Wren to Barn Owl.
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By working with bigger organisations and carrying out contractual work we are helping young people break the cycle of unemployment and enabling them to become contributing members of society.
Put simply, our work helps individuals, families and communities and saves money for the local government by helping to increase employability and reduce anti-social behaviour.
Natural England and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
We have been working in partnership with Natural England since 2014, operating on over 2200 acres of the highest quality National Nature Reserve land.
This allows us to teach skills such as Wildlife Management, Habitat Creation, Wildlife Care and Monitoring, Construction, Mechanics, Waterways Management, Woodland Management and more.
Introduction to Mechanics
We are happy to introduce our new mechanic lessons,. With hands on learning, our students can enrol in our introductory mechanics sessions on both cars and motorbikes.
Sessions include welding, fabrication, vehicle maintenance, spray painting and learning the entry levels to Mechanics. In these sessions, our students learn the basic theory and practical skills they need to start servicing vehicles under supervision.
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Education and Skills
Ad Astra understands how important education is, especially for those who struggle in a mainstream environment. Ad Astra prides itself on their individual learning plans for students which include Functional Skills and GCSE tuition in Maths and English. We enable students to gain accreditation and qualification for a range of core and vocational subjects.
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Education and Skills
Ad Astra understands how important education is, especially for those who struggle in a mainstream environment. Ad Astra prides itself on their individual learning plans for students which include Functional Skills and GCSE tuition in Maths and English. We enable students to gain accreditation and qualification for a range of core and vocational subjects.
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Basic Construction Skills and Knowledge
A range of learning opportunities are presented within the workshop. Students follow the Asdan Vocational Taster course so they will gain experience in a variety of construction-related activities which include joinery, bricklaying, and career pathways
Personal and Social Development
In addition to the formal progress and achievements we work with students on their aspirations and career pathways, we help to develop confidence, self-esteem and self-belief.
Previous students have returned successfully to mainstream schools; and some have gone on to apprenticeships and employment. Our support and guidance has helped them to make positive choices for themselves.
In addition to all the above, we also have the following in place;
· Mental Health First Aider
· Safeguarding Lead, and Deputy Safeguarding Leads
· Fully DBS checked staff
· All staff trained in Safeguarding
· Trauma Informed Staff
· Regular internal and external quality assurance reports
· Attendance rate of 90%
Theory and Driving Tests
We now offer theory and driving tests to our post 16 students*
For more information please email info@adastrauk.co.uk
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* T&Cs apply
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
I wish school was more like this. I get to work outside and help others in the community that need it
'Ad Astra is the only place that has ever helped me gain life skills'
WHAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS SAY
York City Council Rawcliffe Park & Ride
The group have done a good job, It has opened up the pond area and the small woodland surround. They have definitely worked hard and achieved the agreed outcome.
Beki Johnson (York City Council)
Scrub clearance at Clifton Backies
This is an amazing job done by the Ad Astra group!
Please pass on our thanks for such a thorough and worthwhile task. It really looks like a meadow again!
Kind regards
Tony
Tony
Danesgate School, Fulford
Working with Natural England some of the written work they do has Maths and English tuition underpinning any portfolio/evidence work. Danesgate and Ad Astra staff have formed a strong professional working relationship over the past five years, where good communication is central.
They are driven to support and develop the well being of all the students' they work with from Danesgate. Ad Astra continues to support our learners and has recently expanded to include fishing and Health and Fitness to meet student’s needs and our requests. These new ventures have been extremely successful and, although in their infancy, have become embedded in their program offer for our students, and a huge success.
Jasmine Aziz
Natural England
You may remember that last year we dug out - thanks to Ad Astra, the vols, and a corporate group) a new area of reedbed alongside the track between the windpump and pool hide – part-funded by some grants Nick had secured and part by a donation of the York bird club to the friends. One of the things we said in the bid, as well as delivering climate change adaptation, water storage, and filtration and delivering a key habitat missing in the valley, was to provide habitat for colonizing species in response to climate is driven range changes – specifically mentioning Cetti’s Warbler within the bid.
Well, I’m pleased to say, (delighted plus some!) that after record autumn for Cetti’s Warblers in the valley, we have one today in that reed bed mentioned above- a brilliant result, especially as it’s in just over 12 months and before the reed is really fully established. Bodes well and once again shows that we really do just get on and deliver.
Craig Ralston (NE Reseve Manager)