ASDAN

Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network

ASDAN programmes and qualifications provide a vehicle for the implementation of themes across the curriculum and for whole school approaches. ASDAN awards and qualifications are especially suited to those whose learning styles have not been catered for by the traditional GCSE examinations model. ASDAN is an Award scheme which is based on practical activities such as the community, the environment and work experience. The skills students develop to gain an ASDAN qualification will be of use throughout life.

At St Dominic’s we offer the following ASDAN programmes:

In Key Stage 2 - Stepping Stones

Pupils follow the Stepping Stones programme which is taught in their PCSHE lesson. This is self-certificated and pupils receive a certificate upon successful completion of the programme.

In Key Stage 3 - Key Steps

The Key Steps Award is a comprehensive programme of activities in a range of topic areas covering PSHCE, Environment Education, Personal Finance Education, Enterprise and Internationalism. The activities are presented in the form of Personal Challenges and encourage students to develop skills and take responsibility for their own learning. Students must complete 30-35 hours of challenges to achieve their certificate. The flexibility of the Award means it can be followed for up to three years. Certificates are awarded following successful internal moderation of student’s portfolio. Completion of the Key Steps Award can count as two of the twelve credits needed to achieve the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness qualification (CoPE).

In Key Stage Four - CoPE – Certificate of Personal Effectiveness

The course contains twelve modules. Each module is made up of various tasks, which allow students to achieve credits. It is up to each student to decide what they are going to do for each task. They use a three-step process. PLAN – DO – REVIEW. The Award students achieve depends on the portfolio of work they compile through the course.