A School of Skills offer a viable alternative for pupils who are unable to cope or develop in mainstream schools or classrooms.
A School of Skills assist learners with special needs who can't cope or achieve in the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). These schools fulfill an important role within the education system.
Who can attend?
Learners will benefit to enrol in a School of Skills if:
- The learner is 14 or 15 years old and has received extensive, documented support in the mainstream school.
- They experience moderate cognitive barriers to learning which causes very poor scholastic progress. The learner’s lack of progress may be so severe that he/she will only be able to cope on a Foundation Phase level.
- They aren't severely or profoundly intellectually disabled.
- They don’t experience serious behavioural learning barriers.
- They have a short attention span.
- They have a very poor reading ability.
- They attend school regularly, but don’t reap the benefits of the curriculum in spite of support efforts.
- They've spent more time in both Foundation and Intermediate Phase, without showing significant improvement.
- They’re usually functioning 2 years and more below his/her age cohort and is seriously at risk of leaving school early, without attaining skills to enter the world of work successfully.
Learners will benefit from a vocational/practical approach to the curriculum and develop skills to be able to enter the job market.
Pupils who attend a School of Skills can choose the following subjects (depending on which school they attend):
- Ancillary Health
- Care Automotive Repair and Maintenance
- Art and Crafts
- Automotive Spray Painting
- Hairdressing Beauty and Nail Technology
- Automotive
- Body Repair Maintenance
- Bricklaying and Plastering
- Housekeeping
- Basic Welding and Metal Work
- Needlework and Clothing
- Mixed Farming
- Basic Sheet Metal Work
- Hospitality Studies
- Upholstery
- Early Childhood Development
- Woodworking
- Office Administration
Head to the WCED website if you would like to find out more about a School of Skills and how they can cater to your child,
