Engaging, elevating and empowering learners with diverse needs

ASDAN is committed to prioritising learners with diverse needs, including those who are:

• experiencing poverty in all its forms, whether economic, physical, mental, cultural, spiritual, political or societal
• without support for their emotional and social needs
  have a special educational need or disability
• not engaged or succeeding in their education and who miss an English and/or Maths pass at 16 or subsequently;
• at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

We believe every learner deserves the opportunity to discover, develop, and use their abilities. By doing so, they can affirm their identities, contribute to society, and challenge educational and social inequalities.

Research underscores the impact of our work. For example, our flagship Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) qualification has been shown to:

• improve academic outcomes in Key Stage 4, particularly in GCSE English
• support reflective skills and written communication, which enhance performance in traditional subjects
• boost achievement in schools that widely adopt ASDAN courses

These successes demonstrate our ongoing commitment to improving life chances for learners who might otherwise be left behind.

Ethical

• We aim to do the right things in the right ways for the right reasons.
• We have ambitious plans, but will only grow at a pace that guarantees our quality.
• We strive to make effective use of technology in socially responsible ways.

Diverse

• We are committed to building a just world.
• We seek to achieve diversity in our outlook, our people and our courses.
• We are committed to ensuring equality of access and opportunity for learners, educators, our staff and trustees.

Collaborative

• We work with those who share our vision to engage, elevate and empower learners with diverse needs.
• We work closely with educators, learners, parents, carers, employers and community organisations to keep our courses relevant and grounded in real-life contexts.
• We understand the challenges of teaching and the courage it requires, and aim to support educators in practical ways.
• We aim to be supportive and productive partners – locally, nationally and internationally.

Innovative

• We are future focused – committed to helping children and young people prepare for their adult lives.
• We have a restless curiosity about effective pedagogy and assessment.

We are proud of our heritage and the impact of our work, which has evolved to meet the changing needs of learners, educators, and society.

ASDAN remains committed to improving outcomes for learners with diverse needs. We intend to achieve this through our extensive knowledge, and our passion for skills-based education that engages, elevates and empowers.

Look out for opportunities to engage in, contribute to, and benefit from our new developments, all aiming to advance education and promote positive impact for all learners.