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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, and 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, PSHE lessons, 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.
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 workshops/assemblies designed to help them discover the different industries of work with particular emphasis on STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
- The Year 7 PSHE Programme will encourage students to understand personal development, the world of work and how to plan for the future through a series of tasks that students will complete.
- Students will have the opportunity to meet local employers and will take part in activities that use Local Labour Market Information (LMI) to keep our students informed of the industries/opportunities available to them in the area that they live.
Year 8 – Career Discovery
- The Year 8 PSHE Programme will look at helping students to identify their personal skills and interests, to further explore the work of work, identify their personal skills and budget their money.
- Some students will visit a university campus in order for them to get an understanding of what it would be like to go to university and meet students who currently attend.
- Some students will receive mentoring from a local employer in order to help them to understand the world of work and raise student aspirations.
- Students will attend workshops designed to help them discover different industries of work with particular emphasis on STEM subjects.
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.
- Parents and Students will get the opportunity to attend the School Careers Fair to give them the opportunity to explore a range of different job roles with emphasis on local businesses and speak with local colleges/sixth forms/universities.
- The Year 9 PSHE Programme will focus on skills and behaviours in the workplace and what pathways are available to them in the future.
- 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
- Subject teachers will give students the opportunity to visit workplaces, exploring the types of careers available in that subject and a variety of job sectors.
Year 10 – Post-16 and Beyond
- Students will take a closer look at Post-16 options during their PSHE programme in tutor time, alongside exploring skills and behaviours in the workplace.
- 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.
- Parents and Students will get the opportunity to attend the School Careers Fair to give them the opportunity to explore a range of different job roles with emphasis on local businesses and speak with local college/sixth forms/universities
- Some students will visit Colleges and attend Taster days which gives them the opportunity to experience ‘a day in the life of a college student’.
- Some students will visit a university campus in order for them to get an understanding of what it would be like to go to university and meet students who currently attend.
- Students will get the opportunity to have an experience of the workplace through a variety of organised visits with local and national employers
- Students will receive careers advice from our Careers Advisor to help them to understand their options when they leave school including, Apprenticeships/Vocational qualifications/A-levels/T-Level routes.
- Students will take part in a CV Workshop and a Mock Interview Day in the summer term
Year 11 – Planning for the Future
- All year 11 students will have a 1-2-1 meeting with our Careers Advisor to discuss their options when they leave school and begin the application process for their chosen pathway.
- Students will get the opportunity to attend the School Careers Fair to give them the opportunity to explore a range of different job roles with emphasis on local businesses and speak with local college/sixth forms/universities.
- 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 PSHE Program will focus on completing an Action plan for the year, exploring their future options and employability skills.
Do you work in a business that could provide work experience or opportunities for our students?
We are always looking for local businesses that are wanting to inspire and educate our students about the world of work and expand and develop our curriculum. If you think you could help to provide invaluable work experience or opportunities that give students the chance to develop core skills and motivation, in the first instance, please contact Ali Smith via email: asmith@southchurchschool.com
Our Provider Access Policy can be found here