Careers & Preparation for Adulthood

At Wyre Forest School our careers programme is tailored to meet the needs of learner groups and individuals throughout Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. Our programme consists of learning, advice and experiences across:

Careers
The World of Work
Enterprise
Life Skills
Transition into Adulthood

In December 2017, the DfE produced a Careers Strategy: Making the most of everyone’s skills and talents. The document lays out plans to raise the quality of careers provision nationally. It’s aims are:

We want all young people to understand the full range of opportunities available to them, learn from employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace, and have first-hand experiences of the workplace.
We want all young people in secondary school and college to get a programme of advice and guidance that is stable, structured, and delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience.
We want everyone to get support tailored to their circumstances at any time. All adults will be able to access free face-to-face advice with more support for those it need it most.
We want everyone to get the information they need to understand the job and career opportunities available, and how their knowledge and skills can help them in considering suitable careers.

The DfE Careers strategy names the Gatsby Benchmarks as the measure of excellence in careers provision.

Gatsby Benchmarks:

A stable careers programme
Learning from career and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each student
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experiences of work places
Encounters with further and higher education
Personal Guidance

At WFS we are committed to supporting the transition into adulthood of all our learners through fulfilling the aims of the DfE strategy alongside meeting the diverse needs of our young people.

Follow the link for full details of The Gatsby Benchmarks.

Learning opportunities meeting The Gatsby Benchmarks along with additional real-life experiences can be seen in the following mapping documents:

KS3 Real-Life Opportunities Map
KS4 Real-Life Opportunities Map
KS5 Real-Life Opportunities Map

Wyre Forest School Careers Programme

Our full careers programme is detailed here: Wyre Forest School Careers Strategy and Action Plan

KS3 Careers and The World of Work Curriculum Overview
Year 7	What am I good at? What am I good at? What do I find difficult or need to improve on? What qualities do I have? What do I like doing? Set realistic but challenging personal targets and goals Preferences as a learner How to justify choices and opinions
Year 8	Jobs Challenge gender stereotypes of jobs Different types of work: employment, self-employment, voluntary Identify own strengths, interests, skills and qualities and consider how to develop them Benefits of being ambitious and enterprising
Year 9	Jobs Different work roles and career pathways and progression Identify own aspirations They have the same right to learning and work as all other people Challenge family/cultural expectations that may limit their aspirations Subject choices available in KS4 The Labour Market (using LMI) Where to search for jobs Economic Responsibility Budgeting Saving money Recognising our needs and wants Explore social and moral dilemmas about the use of money (how affect economies, environment), e.g. internet's effect on high street, FairTrade, single-use plastic, organic, free-range eggs, buying local

All Key Stage 3 students and their parents are invited to attend the Life Beyond School event in the Spring Term which features representatives from a range of future possible destinations including colleges, training providers and social provision.
Students take part in the KS3 Employers Event which has previously been supported by McDonalds, West Mercia Police, Droitwich CVS, NHS, West Midlands Fire Service, Stone Manor Hotel and Mencap.

KS4 Careers and the World of Work Curriculum Overview
Year 10	Post-16 Choices Evaluate own personal strengths and areas for development and use this to inform goal-setting Information, advice and guidance available How to further develop study and employability skills Changing patterns of employment (local, global), Labour Market index different types of business Work experience Rights and responsibilities when studying/at work (inc confidentiality) Positive attitudes and values at work (customer service) Financial Decision-Making Opening a bank account The difference between accounts and bank cards (current, saving) Recognise the wider impact of their buying choices Be a critical consumer of goods and services Recognising a good deal Rent-to-own schemes, e.g. Brighthouse Consumer rights and how to seek redress (complain appropriately and effectively)
Year 11	Applying for Jobs and Further Study Range of opportunities available to them for career progression, education, training and employment Develop their career identity Create a CV How to maximise chances when applying for jobs or study Job applications and interview preparation Effective answers and body language at interview Work experience
Students working on the achievement continuum within Entry Level 1 take part in Life Skills, Enterprise and Independent Living Skills sessions.

All Key Stage 4 students and their parents are invited to attend the Life Beyond School Event
Year 10 students attend the World Skills Show, NEC
Year 11 students attend Worcestershire Skills Show
Year 11 students attend workshops run by Worcester Apprenticeships and Mencap
Year 11 leavers attend open days and induction sessions at their chosen destinations
Year 11 students take part in CV and interview workshops run by JobCentrePlus
Year 11 students going into the Sixth Form take part in transition sessions

Post-16 Careers and Transition Curriculum Overview

Level 1

Learners

Preparation for work
Health and safety at work
Exploring job opportunities
Communication with others in the workplace
Applying for a job
Completing an Enterprise Project

CoPE L1 Module 6: Vocational Preparation

EL1-3

Learners

OCR Life and Living Skills:

Skill Area: Environment and Community
Skill Area: Home Management
Skill Area: Office Practice
Skill Area: Personal skills
Skill Area: World of Work

Weekly Enterprise and Work Skills lessons

Students working on the achievement continuum within Entry Level 1 take part in Life Skills, Enterprise and Independent Living Skills sessions.

Post 16 students take part in personalised career and transition packages dependent on their needs and aspirations
Post 16 students and their parents are invited to Life Beyond School and termly coffee mornings
Post 16 students attend World Skills Show and Worcestershire Skills Show
Students take part in work experience on-site
Some students take part in work experience off-site
Students work in our award-winning community café - The Blossom Tree Café
Students visit workplaces, colleges and social care providers
Taster sessions at local colleges and training providers
Visits to community facilities and travel training
Year 12 students take part in NCS residential

Our careers team:

Rebekah Thompson - Careers Leader

Tom George - Careers and Transitions Advisor

Please follow the link to contact us if you have any enquiries.

The Blossom Tree Café

We are proud to offer our KS5 students the fabulous opportunity to work in our award-winning café. The Blossom Tree Café serves the local community in Springfield Park for three sessions per week. Our students develop and apply many skills in a practical, real-life situation. These include money handling, time-keeping, health and safety, work skills, communication and social skills, to name but a few.

Careers and Transition Advice

Our Careers and Transitions Advisor (CTA), Tom George, provides impartial careers and transition support to students and their parents.

For more information, please click on the links below: