Careers Education and Guidance
Careers Provision at WHS
Introduction
Wilmslow High School believes that students should be appropriately prepared for the choices they make during their education and the choices they make in the future. Students should have an understanding of how their education will prepare them for the world of work. The students should feel confident in making key decisions about educational and career choices and have a clear understanding of the routes to achieve their goal. This preparation should be achieved through a variety of means such as impartial and independent one-to-ones with a qualified Careers Advisor, careers resources shared across the curriculum, National Careers Week, and Taster Sessions at local colleges and universities.
Mission Statement
All students at WHS will…
- have an aspiration which they share with staff through the Future Skills/Aspirations Questionnaire
- develop their understanding of their skills, interests and personality from Year 7 -13, and make links between these and future pathways
- be provided with information about the range of opportunities open to them
- have the opportunity to meet with external employers at least once per academic year
- take part in work related activities in and out of school
- understand expectations of employers and learn how to apply for jobs
- learn how to make informed decisions about their future
- be fully supported and guided through key transition periods
- learn how to improve their own employability skills
- have access to impartial advice and guidance
- be provided with Labour Market Information (LMI) relevant to opportunities in the locality
Staff
Careers Leader – responsible for the ‘Aspirations Programme’ and strategy
Post-16 Guidance Coordinator – provides encounters and information, as well as supporting student’s post-16 applications
Work Experience Coordinator – arranges work placements and supports the Aspirations Programme
Business Partnership Coordinator – develops our network of business volunteers, makes bid applications and arranges community events
Careers Support – assists with admin for the Aspirations Programme
Information, advice and guidance about education and training providers
It is our intent that all students at Wilmslow High School:
- find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of our careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
- hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships
- understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses
We implement this throughout the careers education programme and ensure that education and training providers given regular and well publicised access to our students through the Wider Curriculum programme, careers fairs, educational visits and specific parents’ evenings.
Our Education and Training Provider Access Policy Statement can be found by clicking through to the policies page of the school website.
Aspirations Programme
Form tutors take an active role in delivering aspirations lessons through Wider Curriculum. In addition to lessons, the programme includes visits, assemblies, talks and fairs.
Year group overview:
Event date | Year | Activity | Activity type | Gatsby BM | Other Gatsby BMs |
| September | 7 | Introduction to Aspirations/understanding skills | Wider Curriculum | 4 | |
| September | 7 | Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ)/Aspirations questionnaire | Wider Curriculum/self- managed task | 1 | 3 |
| January | 7 | FSQ follow up – Improving Skills | Wider Curriculum | 1 | 3 |
| March | 7 | National Careers Week | Formal Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| April | 7 | Future Skills/Aspirations Questionnaire update | Wider Curriculum/Self-managed task | 1 | 3 |
| September | 8 | Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ)/Aspirations questionnaire | Wider Curriculum/self- managed task | 1 | 3 |
| January | 8 | Exploring Aspirations and Target Setting | Wider Curriculum | 3 | 2, 4 |
| March | 8 | National Careers Week | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| April | 8 | Aspirations Questionnaire update | Self-managed task | 3 | |
| September | 9 | Future Skills Questionnaire (KS3 Transition) | Wider Curriculum/self- managed task | 3 | 4 |
| September | 9 | Linking skills personality & choices | Wider Curriculum | 4 | |
| January | 9 | Inspirational encounter | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| January | 9 | KS4 Course Choices launch | Assembly | 3 | |
| February | 9 | KS4 Course Choices – Options Evening + Parent Launch | Careers Fair | 3 | 7 |
| March | 9 | National Careers Week | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| April | 9 | Inspirational encounter | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| May | 9 | Careers – Motivation & stereotypes | Wider Curriculum | 1 | |
| July | 9 | Aspirations Questionnaire update | Self-managed task | 3 | |
| April-July | 10 | Careers guidance interviews | Interview | 8 | 2 |
| November | 10 | Work Experience Letter sent to Year 10 students | Letter | ||
| November | 10 | Work Experience parent talk | Presentation | ||
| February | 10 | Personal Finance 1 | Wider Curriculum | 4 | |
| March | 10 | Personal Finance 2 with employer input | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 4 |
| March | 10 | National Careers Week | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| June | 10 | Work experience prep + skills in the workplace | Wider Curriculum | 4 | |
| July | 10 | Year 10 Work Experience | Work Experience | 6 | |
| July | 10 | Learning from Work Experience | Wider Curriculum | 4 | 3 |
| July | 10 | Aspirations Questionnaire update | Self-managed task | 3 | |
| September-July | 11 | Careers guidance interviews | Interview | 8 | 2 |
| November | 11 | Post-16 support video for Year 11 | Tutor Time | 3 | 2 |
| November | 11 | Preparing for work: CVs and interviews | Wider Curriculum | 4 | 3 |
| November | 11 | WHS Sixth Form Opportunities Information Evening | In school | 7 | 3 |
| December | 11 | Post-16 application form submission | Wider Curriculum | ||
| January | 11 | Inspirational encounter | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| January | 11 | Post-16 course choice exploration | Wider Curriculum | 3 | 4 |
| January | 11 | Post-16 destinations compared to mock grades: IAG identification | Data management | ||
| March | 11 | National Careers Week | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| August | 11 | GCSE results and support for Post-16 Progression | GCSE results day | 3 | 8 |
| August | 11 | Sixth Form enrolment | GCSE results day +1 | ||
| September-July | 12 | Careers guidance interviews | Interview | 8 | 2 |
| September | 12 | Destinations follow-up – September Guarantee | Self-managed task | ||
| January | 12 | Launch of Oxbridge programme | Presentation | 3 | |
| February | 12 | Post-18 Choices Evening | Presentation | 3 | |
| February | 12 | UCAS – Early applicants meeting | Meeting | 3 | |
| March | 12 | National Careers Week | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| March | 12 | Personal Statements and UCAS Conference | Self-managed/ careers fair | 3 | |
| May on | 12 | UCAS – Early applicants support | Meeting | 3 | |
| July | 12 | Year 12 Work Experience | Work Experience | 6 | |
| July | 12 | Aspirations Questionnaire update | Self-managed task | 3 | |
| September-July | 13 | Careers guidance interviews | Interview | 8 | 2 |
| September | 13 | Destinations follow-up – September Guarantee | Self-managed task | ||
| September | 13 | Creation of Year 13 Employment Readiness Programme (ERP) group | Self-managed task | 3 | |
| October | 13 | UCAS: Early Applicants deadline | Self-managed task | 3 | |
| October | 13 | ERP presentation apprenticeship/degree apprenticeship | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 7 |
| November | 13 | ERP – CV masterclass with employers | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 4 |
| November | 13 | Internal UCAS deadline | Self-managed task | ||
| December | 13 | Y13 ERP – mentoring interviews | Wider Curriculum | 5 | |
| December | 13 | Y13 ERP – Meet the Apprentice | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| January | 13 | Preparation for mock assessment centre | Wider Curriculum | 3 | 5 |
| January | 13 | UCAS deadline – external students | Self-managed task | ||
| February | 13 | UCAS – advice re accepting offers | Assembly/Tutor time | 3 | |
| February | 13 | ERP mock assessment centre (at place of work) | Assembly/Tutor time | 6 | 5 |
| March | 13 | National Careers Week | Wider Curriculum | 5 | 2 |
| May | 13 | UCAS – deadline for accepting offers | Self-managed task | ||
| August | 13 | A-Level results and support for Post-18 Progression – UCAS support | A-Level results day | 3 | 8 |
Business Partners
We are very proud of our Business Partnership network which enables students to build links with and learn from employers. These employers are invited to support students in their learning through work placements, talks, interview preparation, careers fairs and work related learning events.
Careers Support and Information for Parents and Students:
Aspirations Support Page for STUDENTS: For support with aspirations and current competitions/opportunities, students can click here
Online Resources for PARENTS: To access a list of online resources, parents click here. These resources may prove useful to students too!
Careers Resources: Students are encouraged to use the excellent range of careers information and guidance materials available via the Well-being Hub in the Pavilion to research information related to their specific interests and aspirations.
Advice and Guidance:
WHS provides impartial guidance to all students, through the contracting of an independent Careers Advisor. This is available to all students and supports those who are making choices at key transition stages. Students can request support in person in the Well-being Hub or via their form tutors.
Contact
For queries relating to careers education or advice and guidance, please contact Mrs H Cook, Careers Leader: hcook@wilmslowhigh.com, Tel: 01625 441090
For queries relating to work experience placements, please contact Mrs K Stephens, Work Experience Coordinator: kstephens@wilmslowhigh.com, Tel: 01625 444166