Careers Education Information and Guidance

At Warren School we strongly believe that good career guidance helps inspire students towards further study and enables them to make informed decisions whenever choices are open to them. It helps them to understand enough about the world of work to know what skills and qualifications they need to succeed. It is critical for social mobility because it helps open students’ eyes to careers they may not have considered.

Warren School is committed to providing a high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) programme to all students. In line with the statutory guidance produced by the Gatsby Benchmarks and the DFE, students receive appropriate and relevant careers advice embedded into the curriculum in addition to dedicated one to one opportunities and group work. CEIAG is incorporated into our curriculum in order to stimulate the interests of students and to inspire them to reach their full potential.

Aims of Careers Education Information and Guidance

The aim of the CEIAG curriculum at the Warren School is to:

  • Prepare pupils for the transition to adult life and life after school (including post 16 provision and work)

  • Support pupils in making informed decisions which are appropriate for them

  • Provide pupils with well-rounded experiences

  • Develop personal characteristics such as social skills, communication, independence and resilience

  • Inspire and motivate pupils to develop themselves as individuals and live as independently as is possible

  • To ensure continuity and progression through student time in school and its coherence with other curriculum areas

  • Involve parents where appropriate

  • Develop personal characteristics such as social skills and to develop strategies which enable them to show good and effective communication, resilience and to have balanced proportionate responses to everyday work place challenges and successes.

All KS4 and Post 16 pupils are entitled to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point. Pupils are also entitled to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events. They should also understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

Warren School is committed to ensuring that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships as well as incorporating this information into the curriculum.

Support and Information

Every student and parent/carer receives current information and support at regular intervals from Key Stage 3 onwards. This will include:

  • Annual Review

  • Open day events where students and parent / carers can meet external providers

  • Visits to local industries and employers

In Key Stage 4 (in additional to KS3 ongoing provisions)

  • Pupil pathways onto accredited and vocational courses

  • Pupils in Year 10 and 11 undertake Work Experience and work based placements and opportunities

  • In Key Stage 4 and 5 students will meet with employers from different local work places and will make visits to the workplaces. They will participate in a number of formal week long work placements linked to their interests and planned career choices. The experiences are fully supported by school staff until it is clear the student no longer needs support (some students may always need some degree of support)

  • Pupils access a work taster week, to gain knowledge on a range of employments

Key Stage 5 (in addition to KS4 ongoing provision)

  • Pupils take part in Enterprise projects across the school year

  • One-to-one meetings with families, the school Careers Leader informs individual routes into Post 19 provision and appropriate and meaningful work experience opportunities

  • In Key Stage 5 students attend local colleges. This enables the students to work with college staff, to explore the campuses, experience life on campus, including use of the canteen and social areas and have a better understanding of the courses offered.

Work Experience

We aim to give all pupils aged 14-19 the opportunity to work experience within the community. The placement is organised in partnership with the student.

All placements are checked for suitability for the individual student , risk assessed and approved. Once parental consent letters have been received, the work placement will commence.

The Work Experience Programme teaches the students communication, respect, confidence and responsibility. Students are accompanied by staff if needed, but also encouraged to attend independently once their confidence has grown.

Work Taster Week

As part of our careers education pupils in Key Stage 4/5 will have the opportunity to take part in a Work Taster Week in late summer where they experience a different work environment every day accompanied by staff. Through this students are able to gain a hands on experience of a variety of jobs.

Careers Leader Karen Hillier

Email karenhillier@warrenschool.co.uk

Contact number 01502 561893