Careers and Guidance Key Stage 4

Careers is taught as part of the school’s VIP – Values in Practice – programme and is delivered by the dedicated team for the Careers & Financial Capability Unit. In Year 9 students learn about the following areas of careers:

Careers – missed Opportunities – Getting students to keep an open mind about Careers Opportunities.

Students also make use of the Career Pilot careers program to research possible career and study routes: https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/

In the Summer term, students are able to update their Career Pilot profile – where the students will be encouraged to do the following:

• Record up to 5 activities
• Complete up to 5 competencies
• Have at least 2 interactions recorded
• CV Contact information and Personal introduction

Take Your Child to Work Day – The Gatsby Benchmarks form the cornerstone of our Careers Programme - this day will support:  

On each of the ‘non-pupil days’ we encourage students to spend the day at work with a parent or close family member.  For reasons of health and safety, students will be limited in what they can do; the basis of the day should be shadowing and observing, rather than active participation in an unknown role. ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’ is not compulsory. However, it is an excellent way for parents to play a part in their child’s career related learning and we hope that as many students as possible are able to participate.

This will allow the students to start thinking about the process of applying for work-experience placements in year 10.

Careers is taught as part of the school’s VIP – Values in Practice – programme.

Students are encouraged to start thinking about their ideas for Work Experience through their Careers research work from Key Stage 3 and also via the Learn About Work Website managed by Careers South West Group.  By doing this, the students develop the skills within a realistic context in the application route for work experience.

There is an opportunity to attend Year 10 Gifted and Talented Day at Exeter College.

Students will revisit their Key Stage 3 research, and are reminded of the use of resources in the school (software, online, paper-based and careers library) for making decisions about future careers and linking it with work experience. They are encouraged through tutors, the Independent Careers Advisor and the Head of Careers to discuss plans, problems and updates.

Take Your Child to Work Day – The Gatsby Benchmarks form the cornerstone of our Careers Programme – this day will support:   

On each of the ‘non pupil days’ we encourage students to spend the day at work with a parent or close family member.  For reasons of health and safety, students will be limited in what they can do; the basis of the day should be shadowing and observing, rather than active participation in an unknown role.  ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’ is not compulsory. However, it is an excellent way for parents to play a part in their child’s career related learning and we hope that as many students as possible are able to participate

Awareness of the work experience opportunities is communicated:

• During Work Experience Introduction Assembly at the end of Year 9 and beginning of Year 10
• During Tutor Time
• To parents through notices in the Parents’ Newsletter;
• To the wider community through the website.

Students are encouraged to have secured work experience placements by March. (Support will be put in place to assist students with this).

CSW Policy & Guidance for Work Experience:

Can an educational establishment use parental disclaimers to allow students to go to unapproved placements?

Parental Disclaimers’ including “holiday forms” that aim to exonerate the educational establishment of their responsibilities towards students on work experience are not recognised by law, and should not be used to sanction unapproved placements.

Does CSW Enterprise work with placements outside of the UK?

CSW Enterprise does not approve any work experience placements outside the UK. Where a student wishes to undertake a work placement outside the UK the educational establishment is required to take all reasonable measures to check risk assessments, health and safety, tasks and safeguarding in line with UK regulations. It is strongly recommended that any measures put in place are acceptable by the relevant local authority. Most local authorities have guidelines for such situations and recommends that only post 16 students are considered for placements outside the UK.

The work experience placement is important so that students:

• Gain awareness of a work environment;
• Observe the skills and personal qualities required in the work place;
• Practise these skills themselves;
• Interview an employer/employee on the nature of their working life, occupational access routes and training.

Evaluation of work experience                                     

The school evaluates work experience through:

• Completion of the Work Experience Diary
• Informal group meetings with the Head of Careers;
• Feedback from supervisors and visiting staff during placements.

All the necessary paperwork and guidelines for students and parents are available from downloads section below.

Volunteers in the Community Programme:

Year 10 students are encouraged to sign up to the Volunteers in the Community Programme.  We support the Over 60s Lunch Club at St James’ Church and a Parent & Toddler Group at Pinhoe Road Baptist Church.  Students sign up for two sessions in the year.

Careers is taught as part of the schools VIP – Values in Practice –  program, through tutorials, introductory assemblies from Exeter College, Clyst Vale Community College, Bicton College and, through Tutor Time Talks from The Maynard, Torquay Girls Grammar School, Futsal, Exeter Mathematics School, Kings School, Ottery, and Haven Banks Outdoor Education Programmes.   Students also get the opportunity to attend the National Citizenship Service Assembly.

Take Your Child to Work Day – The Gatsby Benchmarks form the cornerstone of our Careers Programme – this day will support:   

On each of the ‘non pupil days’ we encourage students to spend the day at work with a parent or close family member.  For reasons of health and safety, students will be limited in what they can do; the basis of the day should be shadowing and observing, rather than active participation in an unknown role. ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’ is not compulsory. However, it is an excellent way for parents to play a part in their child’s career related learning and we hope that as many students as possible are able to participate

Throughout the year students are kept informed about other opportunities, for example:

• National Healthcare Weekend,
• Medic Mentor,
• Open events at all Post 16 providers,
• 6^th Form Experience Days at Post 16 providers and
• National Apprenticeship Show at Westpoint etc.

Each Year 11 student gets a one to one interview with the Exeter College Course Adviser and by request with Bicton College.  All EHCP, SEND and Pupil Premium students get a one to one interview with our impartial and independent careers adviser.

Students also make use of the Career Pilot careers program to research possible career and study routes: https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/