Careers and Employability
Strategic Intent for Careers and Employability Education
Our intent for Careers Education at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School is intrinsically informed by our Core Christian values and our desire for pupils grow to become ‘open-minded global citizens of the future’, ready for a fast-paced and interconnected world of work in the 21st Century.
Pupils at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School begin to engage in learning and exploration about future careers as early as Year 5. Through our PSHE provision called Jigsaw PSHE, pupils in all years undertake a module entitled ‘Dreams and Goals’. In this module, pupils learn about and discuss both the skills and knowledge required for future employment, and also have opportunities to reflect on their own personal ambitions, interests and areas of strength.
Additional opportunities are arranged throughout the year to meet the needs and enhance the personal development of groups or individuals. Working with FE and industry providers to deliver STEM workshops, visiting local high-skill local employers and arranging ‘Challenge Day’ activities are examples of how all pupils have opportunities to learn about and begin to prepare for the future world of work. We also take special care to ensure that our most vulnerable pupils have opportunities to engage with the world of work, having arranged visits or informal job shadowing to local employers of interest or significance in pupils’ lives as well as visits to local colleges to explore a variety of post 16 study options. Vulnerable pupils are further supported with their transition to their next phase of education with enhanced visit arrangements and with personalised support from the SENDCo in course selection. When pupils progress into Year 9 at the Kings of Wessex Academy, they will continue their Careers Education, learning more about the specific requirements for their profession of interest and having valuable opportunities to complete work experience in their chosen field. Further details of this provision can be found under ‘Employability’ at https://www.kowessex.co.uk/employability-at-kings/
Further guidance related to the statutory arrangements for Careers Education at KS3 and above can be found by following this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools
For more information please contact:
Roberta Adair
Careers and Employability Lead
Jessica Piggott
Primary Careers Lead
office@hughsexey.org.uk
01934 712211
Teaching about Careers and Employability
Careers and employability skills and experiences are woven throughout our Academic Curriculum and our Wider Curriculum, ensuring that key skills and essential knowledge permeate our pupils learning experiences from year 5 to year 8. This ensures that pupils to make links in their learning as well as develop the ability to think more deeply about what they are learning and how those skills and experiences will contribute to success later in life.
All teachers include careers into the curriculum, and are encouraged to implement some of the strategies the below:
- have a prominent display that links subject learning and skill development to different careers
- develop links with businesses and organisations
- invite alumni and other external speakers to come into school (virtually where an actual visit is not feasible)
- where appropriate, organise external visits to local businesses/organisations
- record careers learning opportunities for students in schemes of learning, focussing on the Unifrog employability skills (competentcies)
- take part in whole school ‘Challenge Days’ to lead or facilitate activities that further develop employability skills or focus on career routes and opportunities
- explore the possibility of developing real projects/challenges for students with a local business or organisation
- consider the needs and interests of all students and ensure that information challenges stereotyping including gender and disability