Careers - What does it look like at Riverbank?

All students across our 3 pathways are taught the importance of doing a “job” and rewarded on SIMS for completing a job. Each year around 7000 jobs are recorded! 

Adventurer and Explorer students are taught in PSHCE about careers and different types of jobs.

As part of their annual review students are asked about their views, interests, and ambitions and recorded as part of their review. In year 9 all students have independent advice and guidance from a careers specialist. 

Students are encouraged to use our pop-up shop and Riverbank Café where they see our KS4 and KS5 students actively working to serve our school community.  

All students are taught functional and practical literacy and numeracy from year 7 which is further developed and applied at key stage 4 (e.g. within our Employment Curriculum). 

Students will have two encounters with an employer in KS3. To support this we have a strong partnership with Wates, Severn Trent, and Warwick University who give students some ideas and tentative steps on their future destinations. 

At KS4 we use the OCN Employment framework which helps to identify gaps within the selected units to ensure students have the basic skills and knowledge to access “soft” employment opportunities. Modules of learning include:

• Making Choices

• Developing a Personal Learning Programme

• Skills for Gaining Employment

• Applying, Jobs and Courses

• Health & safety procedures in the Workplace

• Looking and Acting the part in the Workplace

KS4 students also have interviews with our careers team which discuss pathways and options for post 16 and beyond. This is recorded and tracked annually by our senior leadership team. 

Each year KS4 students attend a transition event at Riverbank where a range of 16+ providers set up stalls and share detailed information on their provision. This helps students think about their future vocation, choices, and options.  

Students will have two encounters with an employer in KS4. The first, is an event called "Your Future Virtual Roadshow" where students take part in live sessions with a specific focus on apprenticeships and FE. The second is an opportunity to work with an established employee of the Coventry Job Shop and to explore supported internships. 

We continue to build on careers knowledge and skills in years 12, 13, and 14 where we use ASDAN short courses, that offer a range of career and industry-based vocational qualifications. As part of this students develop their knowledge of: 

• Retail 

• Food Drink and Counter Services

• Health and Social Care

• Business & administrative roles

• Construction

• Animal Care

• Working with children & Young People

• Uniformed Servies 

• Environment & Land Based Sector

We also offer a range of work experience programmes including: 

• Riverbank Mentoring Scheme

• Internal Work-Based Placement

• External Work-Based Programme*

• Virtual Work-Based Programme 

• Warwick University/Walsgrave Hospital Internship Programme, External Work-Based Placements

• Mock interviews with local employers 

• Site Visits to a variety of industries

*External providers have included a local Primary School, Hospital, Severn Trent and Deeley's Construction, IMI and Warwick University.