Kingston's post-16 education provision has been deemed sufficient to meet the needs of young people in the borough, including those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The People Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council reviewed the local offer at its meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026, and concluded that it is suitable and broad enough to help young residents aged 16 to 18, and up to 25 for those with SEND, achieve their educational and career aspirations. The committee's findings are detailed in the Public reports pack.
Data presented to the committee showed that 96.5% of young people leaving Key Stage 4 in Kingston upon Thames were in sustained education, training, or employment. This figure is significantly above the national rate of 91.3% for the same demographic.
While academic routes remain popular, there has been an expansion in vocational provision. Seven school sixth-forms now offer BTEC and other vocational qualifications at Level 3. These include subjects such as Applied Science, Art & Design, Business Studies, Creative Media, Criminology, Digital Media, Early Childhood Development, Education & Early Years, Engineering, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, Food Science and Nutrition, Health & Social Care, Information Technology, Media Production, Music Performance, Music Technology, Performing Arts, Photography, Science, Sport, and Travel & Tourism. Southborough High School and Tolworth Girls' School also provide a small number of Level 1 and Level 2 vocational qualifications alongside their Level 3 offerings. Kingston College also provides a wide range of vocational qualifications.
For young people with SEND, the report highlighted strong provision in special schools. Kingston has three special schools with post-16 provision: Bedelsford School, Dysart School, and St Philip's School, all part of the Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHCAT). These schools currently have places for 75 young people aged 16-19. Spring School, part of the Ambitious About Autism Schools Trust, will also introduce a post-16 offer as it expands. Ongoing efforts are being made to expand vocational opportunities for these students, including supported internships and traineeships.
The development of a dedicated Post-16 Campus for young people with SEND is a priority. However, a significant challenge in progressing this project is identifying a suitable site, and it may be necessary to adjust the service specification to move forward. The search for a site is ongoing.
The committee also heard about initiatives to support young people who have not achieved the required qualifications. These include GCSE re-takes and the Catalyst programme for functional skills. The Catalyst programme, commissioned from Purple Ruler by Achieving for Children, offers Level 1 and Level 2 functional skills workshops, mentoring, and GCSE qualifications in English and maths. The programme can support up to 12 learners, with 5 engaged in 2024/25 and 9 enrolled for 2025/26. Specific success rates beyond enrollment numbers were not detailed.
Councillor Sue Ansari, Portfolio Holder for Children's services including Education, stated that the local offer provides a breadth of opportunity, not just between different institutions, but within each provision, ensuring that every young person can find a route that suits their strengths and aspirations. She added, It's great that we've had this discussion tonight and find out that we're continually developing the range of pathways available.
The committee's decisions can be found in the Decisions document.