There are lots of excellent websites available to help Learners, parents, carers and Team Members explore careers, employment, education, training, apprenticeships, independent living and adult life. Whether you are planning your next steps or simply exploring ideas, the resources below can help.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Search thousands of job vacancies across the UK.
One of the UK’s largest job search websites.
Search jobs, courses and career development opportunities.
Explore employment opportunities across a wide range of sectors.
Search jobs within the NHS and healthcare sector.
Explore careers within the UK Civil Service.
A specialist job board connecting disabled people with inclusive employers.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Free careers advice, job profiles, skills assessments and information about education, training and employment.
Discover how school and college subjects connect to future careers and employment opportunities.
Watch real people share their career journeys, experiences and advice.
Explore career sectors, qualifications, job opportunities and graduate careers.
Short career videos introducing a wide range of jobs and industries.
A fun personality quiz designed to help you explore careers linked to your interests and strengths.
Compare jobs, salaries and labour market information to help explore different careers.
A careers platform helping young people explore pathways, careers and future opportunities.
Career planning software featuring career matching tools and progression information.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Search thousands of job vacancies across the UK.
Explore apprenticeship opportunities, resources and guidance.
Learn about apprenticeship routes and career sectors.
Explore Higher and Degree Apprenticeships alongside university pathways.
Find apprenticeship vacancies and read reviews from current apprentices.
Search apprenticeships, traineeships and entry-level opportunities.
Explore careers, apprenticeships and alternatives to university.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Search for courses, qualifications and training opportunities.
Free online learning from The Open University.
Explore all post-16 and post-18 pathways, including education, training and employment.
Information about local training providers and further education opportunities.
Free and paid online courses from universities and organisations around the world.
Search apprenticeships, traineeships and entry-level opportunities.
Explore careers, apprenticeships and alternatives to university.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Search university courses and compare entry requirements.
Calculate UCAS points and understand university entry requirements.
Compare universities, courses and student experiences.
Official information on courses, graduate outcomes and student satisfaction.
University rankings, course information and application advice.
Information about tuition fees, student loans and financial support.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Support and resources about employment, independent living, community participation and adulthood.
Information about supported internships and employment pathways.
Learn about supported employment and inclusive workplaces.
Resources focused on inclusion, employment and adulthood.
Support, advice and information for people with learning disabilities and their families.
Advice, support and information for disabled people.
Resources for autistic people seeking employment and employers creating inclusive workplaces.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Search volunteering opportunities and gain valuable experience.
One of the UK’s largest volunteering opportunity websites.
Find volunteering opportunities and community projects.
Get involved in volunteering and community support.
Support, advice and information for people with learning disabilities and their families.
Advice, support and information for disabled people.
Resources for autistic people seeking employment and employers creating inclusive workplaces.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Information about jobs, salaries, skills and future employment trends.
Explore training, jobs and local opportunities across Devon.
Careers, employment, apprenticeships and local support across Plymouth.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Official guidance on learning to drive and booking tests.
Driving licence guidance and services.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency
Helping disabled people travel independently and confidently.
Journey planning and rail travel information.
Public transport journey planning across the UK.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Free advice on benefits, money, employment, housing and legal matters.
Support with budgeting, saving and financial planning.
Official information about benefits and financial support.
Information about PIP and how to apply.
Information about Universal Credit and eligibility.
Find benefits, grants and financial support.
Benefit calculator and entitlement checker.
Information about savings, responsible borrowing and financial wellbeing.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Practical support for mental wellbeing.
Mental health support and information for young people.
Free online wellbeing support for young people.
Mental health information, support and advice.
Free confidential text support available 24/7.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Advice on relationships, health and wellbeing.
Safety information, support and advice.
Online safety information and support.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Explore the wide range of careers available within healthcare.
Careers and training opportunities in construction.
Information about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Explore careers in film, television, gaming and the creative industries.
Engineering careers, pathways and industry information.
Information about careers within technology and digital industries.
Explore careers, education and training opportunities. Includes quizzes, job profiles and tools to help you think about your future.
Information about Army careers, apprenticeships and training.
Explore careers within the Royal Air Force.
Information about careers and training opportunities within the Royal Navy.
Explore careers within UK policing.
“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”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our proprietors Phoenix Learning and Care, welcome enquiries for placements in any of our services.
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.
