Careers education and guidance begins in Year 7 at Sandhurst and is mapped to the learning outcomes of the Economic wellbeing 11-19: career, work-related learning and enterprise framework.
We provide our students with a careers programme that flows through each progression stage. Primarily this is delivered through our enrichment programme and citizenship, but we also offer a number of extra- curricular activities to support student's transition into KS4, post 16 and higher education.
We are proud to hold the ‘Investors in Careers’ award, 2009 - 2012.
THE PROGRAMME
YEAR 7 – INTRODUCTION TO CAREERS
- Spring Term
1. Introduction to Connexions - Employment Law for Young People & Moving through the Key Stages.
2. The working life game - Industry role play.
YEAR 8 – ENTERPRISE, Summer Term
1. Introduction to KUDOS - Careers Guidance Software, looking at individual attributes, qualities & skills.
2. Enterprise Day - Planning an event; using research, numerical, organisational and leadership skills.
YEAR 9 – WORK-RELATED LEARNING, Autumn Term
1. Connexions - Step 1; online resource, replacing the paper copy of ‘which way now?’ Also available on SDC2.
2. Careers Fair - A number of exhibitors will be available to give expert careers advice and guidance.
3. Software - Independent exploration to meet the challenge of finding effective careers information.
4. Labour Market - Pre-Career Fair information looking at qualifications, qualities & skills and industry.
5. Equal Opportunities
Additional Support
1. Options evening (parents)
2. Options fair / taster days (students)
YEAR 10 – WORK EXPERIENCE/ ENRICHMENT DAY, Summer Term
Skills For Life Workshops
A series of workshops with East Berkshire Education Business Partnership (EBeBP) to prepare students for work experience: (All year 10 students will complete a 5 day block placement in the summer term)
• EBP Presentation
• H&S (Health & Safety)
• Dress to Impress
• Employability Skills
• RAH RAH Theatre – ‘WEX Factor’ Production
Additional Support
1. WorldSkills London 2011 - Interactive Skills Fair
2. Hospitality & Catering - Visits to a number of local hotels to contextualise theory into practice
3. Sparsholt College - ‘Countryside Live’ – an interactive introduction to land based skills and courses
4. Parents Evening - Work Experience
5. Work Experience - July 2012
6. Masterclasses - A Studio Experience with Photography - To support the skills challenge programmw + Master chef – To support Year 10 & 11 catering students
YEAR 11 – POST 16, Autumn/Spring Term
The interview Process
All students will have the opportunity to engage in four workshops supported by a number of local businesses. Each student will be guided and encouraged to correctly complete application forms, CV’s and covering letters. There will also be an opportunity to develop their communication skills with mock interviews and demonstrations with local employers. A workbook will be given to every student in order that they can record evidence and evaluate each session.
Additional Support 2011/12
1. CV writing workshops throughout the year.
2. Post 16 options workshop and guide – Supported by 6TH Form, B&W College, FCOT, National Apprenticeships and Connexions (Guide also available on SDC2).
3. Connexions – 1:1 & group sessions.
4. Skills Fair @ Farnborough College of Technology (FCOT).
5. Careers Fair – A number of exhibitors will be available to give expert careers advice and guidance.
6. Extended work experience – a selected group of will have the opportunity to participate in extended work experience, whereby, they will be placed one day per week in the workplace.
7. A number of students attend Bracknell & Wokingham College to study Level 2, vocational qualifications in; construction, motor vehicle, hair & beauty or the advanced diploma in business, admin & finance.
YEAR 12 / 13 – HIGHER EDUCATION
1. Alternatives to Higher Education
2. Careers Fair - A number of exhibitors will be available to give expert careers advice and guidance
3. Gap years / Community projects / Enterprise / Student Finance
4. CV writing available throughout the year
5. A Level IT – Visit to O2
WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS TO OFFER EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER LEARNING AND DEVELOPING SKILLS INCLUDING:
O2, Siemens, The Army, Thatcham Motors, SCL, Montessori Teaching, Specsavers, National Grid, Reading & Surrey Universities, Local Colleges, National Apprenticeships, Microsoft, Lloyds TSB, NHS, Lattitude, HMRC, EBeBP, REMIT, the Police and a number of local hotels.
These organisations either come into school to support sessions or welcome students into their own places of work. Many organise inter-school competitions, which, we are also involved in throughout the year.
Connexions
Advisers are available to all students periodically through the school week. Referrals can be made by a tutor or students can ask for an appointment. Parents can also refer their son/daughter to Connexions by calling Miss White, Work-related Learning Coordinator on: 01344 775678. There is a ‘drop in’ session to see Stephanie Fitt, Connexions pa, on Thursday lunch time at the Connexions office.
SDC2 (Sandhurst Digital Campus)
Please take some time to explore the Careers Education page on SDC2. There are some really useful and important links to a number of sites that will give students and parents up to date information from moving up into KS4 and beyond.
Areas include: post 16, year 9 options, CV writing, UCAS, student finance, events, careers library and careersbox…
Student Voice
At Sandhurst we feel it is important for students to be engaged in the design, delivery and evaluation of information, advice and guidance provision. An IAG group was formed in the summer term 2009 and is currently made up of students from year 8 – 11. We welcome any students interested, to attend these termly meetings. For further information see Miss White.
Newsletter
All of our extra-curricular activities and upcoming events are printed in the school newsletter.
Of course if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Miss H White
Work-related Learning Coordinator
