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Careers overview

Introduction of our careers provision and key partners

At Oakwood Specialist College, we believe that every Learner should have access to high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance that supports them to achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes in adulthood. 

Our Careers and Futures programme is designed to help Learners develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and experiences needed to make informed decisions about their future pathways. Through a personalised and progressive approach, Learners are supported to explore opportunities, raise aspirations and prepare for employment, further learning, independent living and active participation within their communities. 

We recognise that preparing young People for their future is a shared responsibility. That is why we work in partnership with parents and carers, employers, education and training providers, social care, health and other professionals, community organisations, local Careers Hubs, The Careers & Enterprise Company and a range of external partners to provide meaningful encounters, workplace experiences and real-world opportunities that bring learning to life. 

By bringing together the knowledge, expertise and support of those around each Learner, we help them understand the opportunities available to them, challenge stereotypes, broaden horizons and develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for adult life and future success. 

Oakwood Specialist College work closely with a range of employers as well as the local community. If you are interested in working with us to further extend the range of opportunities available to our Learners, please contact Dan Miliffe (Head of Careers and Futures) – [email protected]

Some of our key employer partners to date include:

  • Coreus Construction Group
  • Waitrose and partners
  • Vistry homes
  • Greendale Farm
  • Organic Arts Farm
  • Dawlish Garden Trust
  • SMART Building Supplies
  • Farm effects
  • Powderham Castle
  • Killerton House
  • Tesco
  • Sainsburys
  • Taylor Wimpey (Oakwood’s industry partner)
  • Ride On
  • The Beacon Centre
  • Teignbridge council
  • The Met Office
  • Kier Construction
  • Buckfast Abbey
  • BAM Nuttall
  • National Trust Dyrham Park
  • Hilltop Riding School
  • Brainwaves
  • Sweetpea Smallholdings
  • BS15 Beacon Centre Café
  • Disability Support Torbay
  • Dr Jenners House and Gardens
  • Claremont Manor Care Home
  • Great Western Air Ambulance
  • Morgan Sindal
  • Torpoint Library
  • Exeter Cathedral
  • The Space Health and Leisure Centre
  • Dartmoor Zoo
  • Torpoint Library
  • Yate Community Bike Hub

We also work closely with the below organisations:

  • The Heart of Southwest Careers Hub
  • Careers Southwest
  • Disability Rights UK
  • Careers and enterprise company
  • Great Western railway
  • Severnside community rail partnership
  • Devon and Cornwall rail partnership
  • Building greater Exeter
  • Building Plymouth
  • Onsite Bristol
  • Future Smart Careers
  • The Careers & Enterprise Company 
  • Ductu 
  • Avon Fire and Rescue Service 
  • Devon and Cornwall Police 
  • West of England Careers Hub 
  • Cornwall Careers Hub 
  • Exeter City FC 
  • Project SEARCH 
  • NHS Learning Disability Team 
  • The Bikeability Trust 

Oakwood Specialist College partners with The Met Office

Oakwood Specialist College is proud to join The Met Office Partner School and College Network.

Together, we’ll create inclusive weather and climate learning that helps all Learners stay safe, build confidence, and explore new career pathways.
 
Our partnership combines Oakwood’s SEND expertise with The Met Office’s national reach to:
• Develop practical, engaging learning resources.
• Support Teachers with training and guidance.
• Inspire Learners to discover STEM and public service careers.
 
This collaboration will make weather, climate, and career learning more accessible, inclusive and empowering — for every Person we support.
Partner College

The Gatsby Benchmarks and High-Quality Careers Guidance

The Gatsby Benchmarks provide the nationally recognised framework for high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) across England. Embedded within the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, the benchmarks support schools, colleges and training providers to deliver structured, progressive and impactful careers programmes that enable Learners to make informed decisions about their futures.  

At Oakwood Specialist College, the Gatsby Benchmarks are delivered through a specialist, Learner-centred approach that recognises the individuality of every Learner. Careers education is personalised, strengths-based and aligned to Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes and Preparation for Adulthood pathways. Learners are supported to explore a wide range of future opportunities, including employment, further learning, community participation and independent living, helping them to progress towards outcomes that are meaningful and sustainable. 

Learners benefit from a progressive programme of careers education, employer encounters, workplace experiences, provider engagement and personalised careers guidance. Careers guidance is delivered through a combination of internal support from the Oakwood Careers Team and independent, impartial guidance provided by Future Smart Careers, ensuring Learners and families are supported to make informed decisions at key transition points. 

Oakwood is committed to ensuring that careers guidance is accessible, inclusive and aspirational. We actively challenge stereotypes, promote high expectations and provide opportunities for Learners to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to navigate their future pathways successfully.

The Gatsby Benchmarks define what world-class career guidance looks like. During Gatsby’s pilot of the Benchmarks, experienced SEND practitioners and national advocates were brought together to form a SEND working group. Drawing on their expertise of developing careers programmes in different settings, in both special and mainstream schools and colleges, they gave the clear message that it would not be appropriate to define a separate set of Benchmarks for students with SEND.

 

Careers Provision Statement
Compass Evaluation Results Report
How Oakwood Delivers the Gatsby Benchmarks
Careers Education Statutory Guidance
Gatsby Summary for College Leaders
Careers programme and policy

GET IN TOUCH

If you would like to find out more about Oakwood, please fill in the form below or contact:

Principal: Esther Williams
Tel: +44 (0)330 135 8 170
Email: [email protected]
Oakwood All Web Map
NAS_Autism_Specialist_Advanced_logo_Full_Colour_2023_RGB

Autism Accreditation

  • Autism Accreditation is an autism-specific quality assurance programme.
  • It was set up by the National Autistic Society in 1992 to improve the support available to autistic people in organisations throughout the UK and across the world.
  • Over 500 organisations in the UK and around the world are now accredited, including: adult services, colleges, inclusion units, local authorities, playgroups, prisons, schools, short break services and more.
  • To achieve Autism Accreditation, provisions have to meet a standard of excellence and follow a framework for continuous self-examination and development.
  • For more information about Autism Accreditation or to get involved, please visit: www.autism.org.uk/accreditation.

“Outstanding in all Areas”...

A place where young people achieve amazing things!

“Learners regularly exceed the
expectations of their EHC plan, such as
gaining meaningful paid employment”

“Learners make excellent progress
from their starting points”

“Leaders have integrated a range of
highly individualised therapeutic
interventions and approaches into
the curriculum effectively”

“Learners behave impeccably and are
keen to contribute to teaching sessions
and discussions”

“Learners gain an excellent understanding
of appropriate behaviours and
healthy relationships”

“Staff support learners to participate in
high-quality work experience activities
linked to long-term goals and interests”

Esther Williams

I have been College Principal at Oakwood Specialist College since 2018. It is an absolute privilege to lead a team of dedicated and caring people that put the learner at the centre of everything they do.

Prior to joining Oakwood, I held a number of senior posts in large Further Education Colleges in the Southwest including Head of Faculty and Assistant Director with responsibility for Quality and Student experience. I have led and taught on teacher education programmes and worked with schools and prison education. In my early career I was lecturer in Sport, and my first teaching role was in foundation learning working with young people with SEND. I have extensive experience in quality improvement and teaching, learning and assessment and am passionate about supporting teacher development.

Wanda Green

Throughout my life I have enjoyed supporting children in a variety of settings. I started out as a Cub Scout Leader, moving onto an Officers position in the Army Cadet Force. Whilst at University, I took advantage of the long holidays working for a children’s adventure company as an activity instructor. I started work in the children’s residential sector in 2000. Since this time, I have worked in several roles including Support Worker, Children’s Homes Manager, Project Manager and Regional Manager. I held direct responsibility for Safeguarding working as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) within several of the settings I was allocated to.

I joined Phoenix in June 2018 as an Area Manager. Moving into a Quality role in 2020 my involvement across our settings increased to include adults and education. Currently I support the Senior Leadership Team education and care to review safeguarding policies and procedures, provide consistency of systems for the management of safeguarding concerns and oversee wider aspects of safeguarding such as training.

My role within governance is to support and review the processes of Safeguarding within the College. I have regular direct contact with the DSL and Deputy DSL’s across the campus’s in order to reflect on safeguarding approaches with Learners and our Team Members. I oversee that actions set within Internal Safeguarding Quality Audits are completed and that training and mentoring for the College teams is appropriate. It is our responsibility working within a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the safety of the Learners and Team Members both within the College Campus and in their home locations.

Darren Jackson

I have been involved in the governance processes for specialist residential colleges, schools and health care settings from 2004. I joined Phoenix in 2021.

My role within the governance team is to support and challenge the College Principal in ensuring that the highest quality of outcomes is achieved. This includes day-to-day operational efficiency and a culture of continual improvement and self-refection. I have specific responsibility as Link Governor for RSE.

I commenced my educational career in 1998. I helped to create one of Wales’ specialist flagship schools for pupils aged 3-19 with profound and complex needs, including autism. My inspirational approach to teaching and learning was recognised by the Welsh Government and as such I became a standard bearer for the teaching of learners with complex needs. I was instrumental in opening and developing Wales’ first Residential Specialist College for young people and adults with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and behaviours that challenge.

I am an experienced Director for educational services and Responsible Individual which has included formal education, residential care and the day-to-day operations of clinical services, within a team of almost 1600. I was accountable for leading governance and quality assurance proceedings and developing clear robust systems and process for service wide self-evaluation and risk management resulting in a strategic and transparent vision for growth and development. This included scribing company policies, oversee all safeguarding procedures management of teams to fulfil requirements that ensure pupil safety. I remained actively involved in further promoting the understanding of autism within mainstream education and the wider community; delivering training on ASC for schools, colleges and general public as well as the initial teacher training students at The University of South Wales who are studying on the post-graduate certificate of education programme.

I constantly seek to raise awareness of specialist education, including autism amongst professionals and the general public, speaking on TV and radio and writing articles for the local, national and specialist media.

Tom Massie

I joined Phoenix in 2017 as Group Quality & Service Delivery Director with a direct remit for our care operations and quality teams. In 2019 I joined the team of Governors for Oakwood Specialist College with a focus on Teaching & Learning. As an organisation we have during this time developed the robustness of our internal management structures by introducing an Operations Director and a Quality Manager to support in the oversight and governance of the college.

I am educated to Master level with degrees in Economics and Statistics & Management Science. I have worked as a Director within multiple companies spanning a range of care and education services giving me significant familiarity with regulatory and governance standards across multiple regulators and countries.

My experience working with people with additional learning needs gives me the determination that the quality of their education must be inspiring and innovative to meet their individual needs.

Paula Thomas

Having joined Phoenix in 2025, Paula is responsible for leading the company’s financial strategy, performance, reporting, and long-range business planning, as well as stakeholder relations, treasury, tax planning, controlling, and audit.

A fellow chartered accountant with over 25 years experiences in various companies spanning the engineering, and manufacturing sectors, Paula has worked in PE backed, corporate, and private businesses, through periods of rapid growth, complex changes, and numerous global events.

Paula’s career has progressed in organisations such as Wood Thilsted (Offshore Wind Consultancy), Nonwovenn (Technical Fabrics) , Stirling dynamics (Aviation & Marine), Specialist Aviation Services (Aviation), and Knorr Bremse (Rail).

In her free time, Paula enjoys travelling, paddleboarding, self-development, and spending time with friends.

Jon Pain

On joining Phoenix in 2015 I became chair of Governors at the Oakwood Specialist College with a remit to improve financial stability and the quality of the setting as part of overarching improvements to the Phoenix organisation in my substantive role as Chief Executive.

Today the focus is on facilitating high quality education by, in part, improving curriculums and teaching and ensuring Learners are best equipped with communication skills and experiences to ensure they are participative members of society.

I have held senior appointments across a range of sectors including manufacturing, media, logistics, tourism and healthcare with a number of respected well-known companies both at International, national and regional levels. I have worked with numerous regulators including; Care Inspectorate Wales, Care Inspectorate Scotland, Ofsted, Estyn, CQC, The Office of Rail & Road and Ofcom.

I have experience of trusteeship with a range of charities including Ltd, CIC & PLC structures.

I have a daughter who is now in her late twenties who successfully passed through private primary and then secondary state education, college then university and a partner who is an artist.

I strive for our Learners to enjoy their time at Oakwood, to strive to achieve the best they can and to be productive and contributing members of society. I also want to see our Team Members experience fulfilling careers making a positive difference to the People we Support and to enrich in turn their own lives.

Feedback from last Academic year

Philosophy on feedback

As part of our approach to reflective practice Phoenix Learning and Care recognise and embrace the importance of developing a culture of continual learning and development.  We welcome feedback on our achievements and the opportunity to share best practice, however we equally understand the importance of learning from our shortfalls. As such we welcome hearing about where we may have not lived up to our high standards and we truly value the opportunity to reflect and learn about areas that we need to develop further.

Within the last academic year we have received the following number of compliments and complaints.  

COMPLIMENTS
1
COMPLAINTS
0

If you would like to provide feedback to the school or wish to make us aware of a compliment or complaint then you can email the school direct.

Alternatively, you may contact our Operations Director for Education, Darren Jackson on: [email protected]

We treat all concerns appropriately and all complaints are investigated thoroughly following our complaints policy and procedure which can be found within the Policies section of this website.  

REFERRALS

Our proprietors Phoenix Learning and Care, welcome enquiries for placements in any of our services.

Please call us on 03330 150331 or email [email protected]

We will provide an initial response to all enquiries as soon as possible, advising the options available and indicative dates of admission.

The referrals team can discuss the local offer and where appropriate, put you in contact with the respective Registered Manager or Head Teacher to discuss the practical areas in greater detail.

The Young Person and/or Student are openly encouraged to visit along with parents, guardians or Social Workers to see if the placement is suitable.

Once the placement is confirmed, we work to ensure a smooth transition including the completion of required documentation.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

We work closely with our children/young people, their families and professionals to create bespoke programmes of learning for students, which are tailored to their educational and social and emotional needs, supporting them to achieve their full potential. This means that we deliver a personalised curriculum, which, where possible, acknowledges the national curriculum and meets the individual needs of our students, whilst also supporting them to meet the outcomes identified in their EHCPs.

To achieve this, every student has an individual education plan which identifies their areas of need and how we can best address them, both in terms of staff approach and the curriculum that they are provided.  Our goal is to provide access to the best academic outcomes possible as well as preparing our students for adulthood and the next stage of their education by equipping them with the skills required to achieve personal success.