01709 740232

Winterhill School Careers Education, Information and Guidance approach to curriculum and enrichment

This approach involves input for many sectors and we activity engage students, parents/carers, staff (teachers), employers and many other partners. We continue to raise awareness and activity encourage all to be involved and contribute to the delivery. This will ensure sustainability of the programme but also the continual development.

Introduction

Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is an essential part of the support we offer to students at Winterhill School. Effective careers support can help to prepare young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life; it can help them to make decisions and manage transitions as learners and workers. As options for young people become more varied and complex, it is, vital that we support them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices for their future. As a result, the careers programme has a whole-school focus designed to complement the rest of the school curriculum.

The Government’s Careers Strategy (December 2017) and Statutory Guidance, Careers guidance and access for education (October 2018), sets out a long term plan to build a world class careers system that will help young people and adults choose the career that is right for them. This statutory guidance has been updated to expand on the aim set out in the strategy to make sure that all young people in secondary school get a programme of advice and guidance that is stable, structured and delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience.​

Winterhill School follows the National Framework for CEIAG, and other relevant guidance set out in government publications.

We use the principles of the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks to continuously develop and improve careers delivery to ensure compliance and fulfil legal duties.

We provide impartial careers guidance and provide opportunities to a range of providers to inform pupils about Post 16 pathway options.​

Winterhill School measure and assesses the impact of the careers programme on pupils through student voice, systematic feedback from all partners and destination data.

8 Gatsby Bench Marks

​1. Offering a stable careers programme.

2. Creating opportunities to learn from career and labour market information.

3. Addressing the needs of each student.

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers.

5. Providing opportunities for encounters with employers and employees.

6. Supporting with creating experiences of workplaces.

7. Creating encounters with further and higher education.

8. Providing personal guidance for all students to suit their individual needs.

Careers Programme

Our CEIAG Programme, sets out how the school intends to provide a fit for purpose careers programme with the available resources which will provide our students with the knowledge, inspiration and ability to take ownership of their own career action plans which will enable them to succeed in their chosen career paths.​

The activities outlined below are not exhaustive but aim to give an overview of the type of activities our young people can engage within during their time at Winterhill School.

Our CEIAG offer:

  • To provide students with up-to-date, detailed good quality information about all pathways, relevant courses, opportunities, labour market understanding and supporting students to make useful networks strengthens students’ capacity to make informed decisions and positive transitions.
  • Career delivery in PSHCE lessons from Year 7 to Year 10 covering personal and skills development. Careers research, exploration and planning.
  • Meaning encounters with FE, apprenticeship and HE, providers and employers in workshops, guest speaker sessions, careers fair and external visits.
  • The opportunity to engage in a work experience programme..
  • Delivery and links identified in curriculum lessons to skills attainment and careers opportunities to linked sectors. To relate what they learn in lessons to their life and career beyond school.
  • Careers IAG, support, 1-to-1 guidance appointments and career planning with our highly qualified and experienced Careers Lead on how best to use careers information and tailor the needs of each student.
  • The opportunity to talk through their career and educational choices with staff, including group tutors, behaviour for learning team and Head of Year.
  • To raise aspirations of all students by highlighting the relevance of learning and attainment.
  • To develop students’ understanding and recognition of transferable skills, self-awareness to build confidence and motivate students which enables them to take ownership of decision-making.
  • Offer targeted support for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.
  • Monitoring throughout their journey at Winterhill School at crucial decision-making times.
  • The school will keep parents/carers informed of students’ progress and provide careers IAG that enables support with career planning and decision-making. 
  • Destination monitoring and CEIAG support for students after leaving school.

Careers Team

Careers Lead: Tania Ashton Bray, Tel: 01709 740232, Email: careers@winterhill.org.uk

SLT Link: Deputy Head Teacher, Maxine Owen