Pupils at specialist autism academy achieve top marks

Students from a school for young people with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum are celebrating after achieving top grades in their exams.

Twelve pupils from LVS Oxford achieved Level 1 awards across a range of BTEC vocations offered at the school.

The school seeks to provide its pupils with the skills and academic achievements needed to live independently in adult life.

The news comes after a study revealed that more than half of adults with autism lack a paying job, while one quarter go without assistance with job placements.

Louisa Allison-Bergin, Head of School at LVS Oxford, said: “LVS Oxford gives students with autism the skills they need to live independently as adults. We achieve this through a broad range of academic options, such as GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs, and are delighted that our learners have done so well and thrived during their BTEC courses.”

A number of the students combined their studies with work experience placements, with some students taking on customer-facing roles at Blenheim Palace.

Ms Allison-Bergin added: “Our additional commitment to work experience – allowing them to gain experience in careers they are interested in and develop their CVs – and growing their confidence in dealing with social situations – all combines to ensure our learners go on to have bright futures.”

Around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK, around one in every 100 people.