As part of our NASS Award spotlight series, we’re celebrating the exceptional work of our 2024 Outstanding Impact Award finalists and winner.
In this piece, Victoria Walker, Deputy Headteacher at Undershaw Education Trust, shares how the independent special school’s pioneering Undershaw Diploma is transforming outcomes for its learners, equipping them with essential employability skills and opening new pathways for their futures.
Undershaw's innovative approach was recognised in its recent Ofsted inspection, where the school achieved an Outstanding rating across all areas. Inspectors highlighted its “exemplary” commitment to preparing students for life beyond school, with the Undershaw Diploma identified as "a standout feature" of its provision.
Ofsted, February 2025: "The employability programme threads through all the school does… Through real-world experiences, pupils develop confidence, independence and a deep understanding of the world of work."
Beyond its own learners, Undershaw is committed to sharing its approach with other SEND settings both in the UK and internationally.
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At Undershaw, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive—both in school and beyond. That’s why we created the Undershaw Diploma, a unique, accredited qualification that helps students develop and apply essential employability skills. These skills, identified by industry leaders as the foundation of effective workplaces, prepare our students for meaningful futures, no matter the career path they choose.
Why This Matters
Research shows that young people with lower levels of essential skills are more likely to become NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). In fact, only 4.8% of young adults with SEND are in employment, even though 86% of them want to work (Essential Skills Tracker 2022).
We knew we had to change this. That’s why we built a curriculum that gives students the skills they need to succeed. By working with the Skills Builder Partnership framework and developing accredited unit awards, we’ve created a qualification that has already made a huge difference in our students’ lives—and has the potential to do the same for SEND learners nationwide.
How We’re Making a Difference
Since March 2020, we have been embedding the Skills Builder curriculum into every part of school life. In January 2022, we took it a step further by introducing our own accredited AQA unit awards, giving students a structured way to track and celebrate their progress.
Students start by working towards the Skills Builder bronze level in all eight essential skills. Once they achieve this, they earn their AQA certificates and Undershaw Bronze Diploma. This skills-based learning is woven into everything we do—from classroom activities to pastoral care, therapy sessions, and career-focused experiences. It even extends into the home, ensuring that learning is practical and relevant to real life.
The impact has been remarkable. To date, 30% of our students have completed the full Bronze level Diploma and are now working towards the more challenging Silver level. Every year, we see more students gaining their skills certificates, proving that this approach truly works. In a recent visit from Ofsted, it was identified that Undershaw’s commitment to preparing pupils for the future is exemplary and that the Undershaw Diploma is ‘a standout feature’ of the school’s work.
Embedding work experience placements and industry exposure days alongside the Diploma, means that we are also changing views and assumptions about SEND learners amongst local businesses, and creating opportunities for future employment for our learners.
Looking Ahead
The Undershaw Diploma has opened up a new pathway for SEND education, and we’re excited to share it with others. As a Flagship setting for Skills Builder, we support other schools in embedding this curriculum, offering guidance and access to the awards.
We’ve already helped another UK SEND trust, a post-16 SEND provision, and even a SEND school in Dubai to get started with Skills Builder and the accredited certificates. And we’re just getting started. By working together, we can change the future of SEND education, employment, and social inclusion—one student at a time.
At Undershaw, we’re not just teaching skills—we’re building futures.
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If you would like to read about the other finalists and winners in our 2024 NASS Awards, please visit: https://www.nasschools.org.uk/congratulations-to-our-2024-nass-award-winners/