We take a personalised approach to education

The Arden College Overarching Curriculum

Our curriculum has been designed to ensure a broad, balanced, and progressive learning experience for all students regardless of age, ability or any barriers to learning they may face.

Each young person has a bespoke curriculum designed by and for them. Their learning is based on the specific strengths, interests and areas for development which will have the greatest impact on their adult life. All students have a curriculum that is destination and skills building focused.

The curriculum supports the holistic development of students and is broadly divided into six areas, which will help to prepare them to live their best future beyond education.

Independence – including practical skills, choice and opportunity
Good Health – including physical and mental health and wellbeing
Friendships, relationships and being part of a community
Further education, training or employment and/or active citizenship
Good communication and social skills
Emotional regulation skills

We believe our students have a right to belong; to be established in a community, to develop resilience, to communicate effectively, to be healthy and to develop independence now and for the future. Our college values link closely to the British Values of modern society. Arden College students focus on building their essential skills to succeed.

Key services and facilities at our college

Arden Café which facilities enable our students to develop their employability and life skills by working in real world environment
Person-centred learning programmes, tailored to the specific needs of each young person
High staff to student ratios
Access to accredited qualifications
2 education campuses and a range of additional facilities including sensory rooms
A highly experienced teaching team
A wide range of therapeutic support provided by a specialist therapy team
A specialist learning environment with a broad curriculum offer
Meaningful practical work experience with a range of community partners

Our campuses

The support provided at Arden College is split between two campuses. Both are designed to meet the sensory and learning needs of students with autism and provide a low stimulus and visually structured environment.

Banks campus

Situated in the village of Banks in Lancashire, ours Banks campus is newly renovated and surrounded by natural beauty. The campus is modern with well-equipped learning spaces developed with our young people’s needs in mind.

Address: 41 Church Road, Banks, Lancashire, PR9 8ET

Derby Road campus

Our Derby Road campus is situated in Southport, on the west coast of Lancashire. The college makes the most of its location, with a lot of the extended curriculum being in vocational settings within the community.

Address: 40 Derby Road, Southport, PR9 0TZ

Our therapy and support services

Therapy plays a crucial role in enabling our students to achieve their full potential. A key objective is to support young people to manage their needs themselves, to achieve greater independence and ensure that they have tools to draw on for life. Every young person receives a bespoke package of therapy, tailored to their specific needs and regularly monitored and reviewed by our multidisciplinary team.

We use therapy to support our young people to develop and progress socially and emotionally. It can remove any barriers to learning and help to transform young people’s lives, boosting capacity to progress and achieve. Our students are empowered to follow their interests and goals, and to engage with the wider community that they are part of.

Our therapy team works closely with teaching staff, so they know how to adapt the environment to obtain the best from each learner. Therapy is embedded into everyday learning and its impact is maximised.

Our highly specialist therapy team includes:

Speech and language therapists and assistants
Occupational therapists and assistants
A counsellor

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