For a number of years our Year 10 students have had weekly sessions of integration at local FE colleges (this year they are attending Alton College). This year WMAT have provided the funding for Y11 students to take a step further and attend taster courses at Farnborough College of Technology each week. As a school, we feel that this is an exciting development as it will give the students an opportunity not only to familiarise themselves with an FE environment, but help them make decisions about what courses they would like to study in the future and to make a smooth transition into KS5 and life after The Abbey.

They are taking a range of short courses in rotation which have been specifically designed to meet their needs:

• Motor vehicle maintenance
• Catering
• Sport
• Hair and Beauty
• Media
• Construction

This half term they will all be following a Hair and Beauty programme. There is a practical element to the course which involves washing each other’s hair and carrying out mini-manicures – today was their first session.