Life Skills Hub expands to bridge gap between school and college for students needing support
OPPORTUNITIES: From left, Life Skills Hub headtecher Sue Clarke, inclusion lead Katy Langfield and director Luke Cardwell.
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
An independent school for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is expanding, creating new opportunities for post-16 students who need additional support.
Life Skills Hub Central in Endike Lane, north Hull, is opening Life Skills Hub Next Steps in Grosvenor Street, Hull city centre, to bridge the gap between secondary school and further education for students in Years 12 and 13.
Ofsted inspectors have given the green light for the specialist team to welcome an additional 15 students aged 16 to 19 to Life Skills Hub Next Steps from September this year.
In addition, a further five places will be made available for students aged ten to 16 (Years 6 to 11), at Life Skills Hub Central, taking the total number of places at the main school from 25 to 30.
The aim of Life Skills Hub Next Steps is to provide an extra one or two years of support to students who need it, enabling them to more easily transition into a mainstream college, training or work environment, and take positive steps towards their future goals.
EXPANSION: Life Skills Hub Next Steps will bridge the gap between secondary school and college for students needing support
Katy Langfield, Life Skills Hub inclusion lead, will be leading the team at Life Skills Hub Next Steps.
Katy, a highly experienced expert in supporting post-16 students, said: “There are a lot of young people in an education setting like ours who are not ready make the jump to the next level of further education.
“They have a higher risk of not being engaged in any formal education or vocational training, which could lead to unemployment in adulthood.
“Life Skills Hub Next Steps will reduce that risk, improve their life chances, and build on the additional foundations they need to help bridge that gap.
“Life Skills Hub Next Steps will provide that transition to support them in being successful when they then move onto college, training or employment.
SUPPORT: The Life Skills Hub Next Steps building in Grosvenor Street, Hull city centre
“It will give them the time they need to build their confidence, resilience and practical life skills to make that next step.”
Life Skills Hub Next Steps will support post-16 students who have experienced trauma, have gaps in learning, or are neurodiverse.
This offering is an extension of the educational and therapeutic support for students at Life Skills Hub Central, who have social, mental health, speech, language or communication needs, and receive bespoke support.
Students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), who have previously faced challenges in education, will study maths and English at Life Skills Hub Next Steps, alongside their Entry Level 3 vocational programme.
They will focus on enrichment options including physical education, art and design, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, cooking skills and budgets, and independent living skills, to prepare them for adulthood.
INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENT: Students will be able to transition more easily into a mainstream college, training or work environment after spending time at Life Skills Hub Next Steps
Their three-day week will also include careers advice and guidance, work experience, personal social, health and economic education, relationships and sex education, independent travel training, and enterprise projects to teach them about business.
Residential visits and links with businesses, organisations and charities in the local community is also a focus for the team to enhance opportunities for students.
Life Skills Hub accepts students from areas including Hull, East and North Yorkshire, and North and North East Lincolnshire. Current students at Life Skills Hub Central could move to Life Skills Hub Next Steps, but new post-16 students are also accepted.
Luke Cardwell, director of Life Skills Hub, said: “Our Next Steps site is a grown-up, independent environment that reflects college life without being too big and overwhelming, and with excellent transport links.
“The jump from leaving school in Year 11 into a bustling college or training environment is something many young people can’t cope with, and we’re here to help them overcome that.
“The young people can access classroom and open learning areas, and social areas, and Ofsted acknowledged the high standards of the building and refurbishment.”
Ofsted inspectors who visited the new site, which has undergone significant refurbishment to create a college-like environment, said: “The proprietor has established an environment where staff and leaders at all levels are highly aligned in what they want to achieve.”
Life Skills Hub Central was last year rated Good in all areas by Ofsted, including Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management. The team achieved this after only opening the Endike Lane campus in 2024.
Sue Clarke, headteacher at Life Skills Hub, said: “Next Steps has been a huge team effort and we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome students from September.
“To be able to make a difference to 15 young people in this way is huge, and will make a significant difference to their futures.
“We are specialists in delivering this niche support in our local area, and we're delighted to extend that offer even further.”
To register your interest in a place at Life Skills Hub Next Steps, email enquiries@lifeskillshub.co.uk