The Cavendish School, Cambridgeshire’s first state-maintained free school for autistic students, is celebrating its students’ first-ever BTEC results and the school’s second year of GCSE results. Every student who studied the BTEC Level 1 in Esports achieved a ‘pass’ grade, while 37 per cent of students who sat their GCSEs achieved a grade 4 or higher including Maths and English, compared to the national average of 13 per cent for students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The Cavendish School was the first special school in Cambridgeshire to offer the BTEC qualification when it introduced it in September 2024. During their studies, students explore business, finance, and strategy and engage with age-appropriate and skill-oriented games that they choose to build confidence, communication and leadership skills.
Aanand achieved eight GCSEs, five of which were graded 9, and a Level 2 BTEC while Zachary achieved seven GCSEs, all of which were graded 6 and above, and a Level 2 BTEC. Luigi one of the first students to join The Cavendish School when it opened in 2021, achieved five GCSEs and three BTEC qualifications including a Distinction in Sports Studies. His parents are delighted by his results after his previous school predicted he would be unable to take any qualification exams.
The school became the first state-maintained special autism school in the world to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) following its authorisation as an IB World School in 2024. The IB’s educational framework is rooted in inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning and develops students’ social, emotional and physical wellbeing. Students build on the skills and knowledge that they develop in Years 3 to 8 during a transition year before commencing their GCSE studies in Year 10.
To prepare students for success in their exams, students complete entry-level qualifications from Year 9. A gradual, trauma-informed approach to weekly and end-of-unit mini-assessments also normalises the process of testing knowledge throughout students’ time at the school.
Stephanie Smith, Head of School and Executive Director of SENDV for Eastern Learning Alliance, said: “We are extremely proud of all our students for the determination and resilience they have shown during their studies. While our students should all be proud of their grades, the headline results don’t tell the full story. When they arrive at our school, some of our students struggle to attend school for a full day or are unable to read or write after their previous experiences in education so every single student has made tremendous personal progress during their time with us.
“For many, simply sitting these exams is a significant milestone and a testament to their growing confidence and progress. We are delighted to see individual successes across the cohort as well as in the first set of Esports BTEC results, which reflect the breadth of academic and vocational opportunities for our students to pursue their strengths and interests as they prepare for adulthood.”
Several of the students will study at the school’s Sixth Form in September, where they will pursue an Open University Level One module qualification. Credits from this module can be used towards further Open University qualifications or to meet the entry requirements at a variety of universities, such as Anglia Ruskin University. Alongside this, students will also benefit from work or volunteer experience and continued therapeutic Personal Learning Goal (PLG) support.
Earlier this year, the school was awarded a Specialist Advanced Award by the National Autistic Society, the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families, which recognises specialist providers that deliver exceptionally consistent, person-centred support for autistic people.
To learn more about The Cavendish School, visit: https://thecavendishschool.org.uk/
