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Careers Support at Southchurch High School
Our aim at Southchurch High School is to provide an inclusive, effective and stable careers programme for all our students from Year 7 – 11. We have a dedicated Careers Leader in school who facilitates and promotes our Careers Programme who is also a Level 6 Qualified Careers Advisor. Additionally, we have a member of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for overseeing the Careers Provision within the School. As such we are committed to providing great quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) to help raise our student’s aspirations, so they feel motivated to achieve their goals.
Using the Gatsby Benchmarks we have designed a detailed strategy that ensures all of our students will take part in a wide range of activities to help inspire them and help them to make informed decisions about their future. Each year group will have a different focus and will be given bespoke opportunities throughout the school year to develop their skills and discover their potential. This includes external trips, internal visitors, work experience, workshops and visits to local Colleges and Universities. We regularly ask our students to evaluate the support they receive to ensure we are doing all that we can to achieve each benchmark. Students are given the opportunity to give verbal/written feedback on all the activities that take place and provide ideas of what they may find helpful to them in the future. This helps us to develop our careers strategy and continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the support we provide.
As part of our commitment to providing high-quality careers education, we integrate National Apprenticeship Week, National Careers Week and Green Careers Week into our annual programme. These events offer students valuable opportunities to explore different industries, and develop a deeper understanding of the pathways available to them.
Summary of Careers Provision at Southchurch High School
We have designed the Southchurch High School Careers Evolution model. It identifies our focus for each year group and the types of questions students need answering in relation to their career journey. It also helps to reassure students that they will be prepared and fully equipped for when they leave school. Below you can also see in more detail, the types of activities that students in each year will take part in to support them on their journey.
Year 7- An Introduction to Careers
- Students will attend a ‘Goals & Aspirations’ Workshop designed to help them reflect on their strengths, interests and future ambitions. This activity introduces student to early careers thinking
- The Year 7 careers programme will introduce students to learning through self-reflection, explore the career possibilities available, and begin to build positive relationships with others
- Students are supported to register with Unifrog; an online careers platform that provides detailed insights into various career options and pathways
Year 8 – Career Discovery
- The Year 8 careers programme will look at helping students to identify their personal skills and interests, learn about the challenges and rewards of work and make a vision board for their future
- Some students will visit a university campus to gain an insight into university life and engage with current student ambassadors
- Students will attend workshops/assemblies designed to help them understand the skills employers are looking for
- Students will take part in a careers carousel, where they will have meaningful encounters with employers and training providers to provide them with exposure to various careers and sectors
Year 9 – Choosing the right options for me
- Students will have the opportunity to meet with our Careers Advisor to discuss their career aspirations and help them to decide on the right subject options to take to support their goals
- Students will take part in workshops that focus on higher education and apprenticeships as future pathway options
- Students will have an options evening designed to give students and parents the opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss which GCSE subjects are right for them
- Some students will visit a university campus to gain an insight into university life and engage with current student ambassadors
Year 10 – Post-16 and Beyond
- Students will take a closer look at post-16 options including apprenticeships, vocational qualifications/A-Levels and T-Levels
- Students will receive support in writing a CV and completing job applications through a series of workshops designed to equip them with the skills they will need for the future.
- Some students will attend taster days designed to experience ‘a day in the life of a college student’.
- Some students will visit a university campus to gain an insight into university life and engage with current student ambassadors
- Students will get the opportunity to undertake a one-week work experience placement to help them learn about the expectations in the world of work, and gain valuable skills
- The Year 10 careers programme will focus on reflection, wellbeing in the workplace and preparation for going on work experience
Year 11 – Planning for the Future
- All Year 11 students will meet individually with our Careers Advisor to explore their post-16 options and start applications for their chosen pathway, prioritising those with additional needs
- Further and higher education talks/assemblies will take place, aimed at supporting students in their decision making so they feel full equipped in whichever pathway they choose.
- The Careers Advisor will be present at the parents evening, to help students and parents with any questions or support that is needed.
- The Year 11 careers programme will focus on choosing a post-16 pathway, employability skills and researching paid work and volunteering opportunities