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Careers Programme Information
At WSE careers education is viewed as critical to young people’s success in raising their aspirations and ensuring they are able to become the very best version of themselves they can be.
Careers at WSE
There has never been a time when careers guidance has been as important for young people as it is today. The landscape of education, training and employment opportunities is more complex and more challenging than ever before.
Changes in the labour market, driven by technological development and increasing globalisation, means there are greater challenges and opportunities for young people entering the labour market. We want to challenge perceptions and raise aspirations, free from gender bias, so that students are able to look beyond their immediate environment to new and exciting possibilities, being inspired by new opportunities.
Careers Information Advice and Guidance enables our students to progress through learning and into work. All students have to make important choices during their time at school. We have therefore developed a varied careers and work-related programme that will allow our students to understand and develop the qualities, attitudes and skills needed for life and work.
Students and their parents have access to a range of support allowing them to learn about the local labour market requirements and future career paths.
We value the importance of excellent impartial careers advice and work with a variety of external agencies and local post-16 providers to share advice and guidance to support the future of each student
The school has a statutory duty to secure independent careers guidance for all Year 7 to 11 students (The Education Act 2011 / Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers January 2018).
A range of opportunities is open to our students from Year 7 to 11, to help them develop their career aspirations and challenge stereotypes. This varies from Personal Development Days, mock interviews, careers fairs, visits to employer sites and work experience as well as our annual Careers and Aspirations Day in June. All students have access to an impartial careers advisor and a range of post-16 providers who inform students of the different pathways available to them. We support students in making well-informed decisions by providing access to differentiated, impartial and independent information and guidance about the range of options
(including academic, vocational, apprenticeships) that are most likely to help them to achieve their ambitions. By helping students with decisions at key transition points, informing them of all their options and introducing them to the world of work and a wide range of careers, we aim to prepare them for the world of work, whichever pathway they choose.
What students experience:
Key Stage 3 students are aware of careers stereotypes and of their own personal attributes. They have special assemblies, enterprise days, team-building activities and support and guidance when selecting GCSE options.
Key Stage 4 students have a clearer idea of possible pathways post-16 and develop their career management skills. They have opportunities to visit careers fairs, Higher Education establishments and encounters with a range of employers, as well as support with applications, interviews and planning. They visit careers fairs and HE awareness events, apprenticeship workshops. We also have visits from alumni, post-16 providers and employers. Year 10 students will also have the opportunity to take part in a work experience placement (either virtual or in person). All students leave with the ability to make decisions about destinations and future pathways.
The Gatsby Benchmarks: ensuring quality careers provision
‘The government’s Careers Strategy, published in 2017, and statutory guidance for school leaders and school staff, published in 2018, set out the plan for building a high-quality careers system that will help young people to achieve.
Thanks to Sir John Holman and The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, we have a clear blueprint of what good careers provision looks like. The eight Gatsby Benchmarks are based on best national and international research and define all the elements of an excellent careers programme.
‘The Gatsby Benchmarks have now been put at the heart of the Careers Strategy, with an expectation that all schools will begin working toward the Benchmarks.’ The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Schools, The Careers and Enterprise Company.
Please note this page is under review and new policy and strategy will be added shortly.
Further information:
If you have any questions about Careers education at WSE, please contact Mrs Wells our Careers Leader.
Further information
Useful websites to support independent research into careers and routes into the world of work using accurate, up to date Labour Market Information:
Work Wiltshire i CouldCareer PilotNational Careers DirectCareers BoxTarget CareersAmazing Apprenticeships
Careers Resources
If you are looking for careers books, you may wish to browse through the How2Become’s catalogue – full of new, innovative and insightful products to guide you through recruitment processes and entry level tests for lots of careers.
Can you help?
We are always looking for facilitators from Industry who can attend our events and work with students on activities based around the world of work and business. If you are a business wanting to create links with schools and work with young people, then we would love to hear from you.
For more information contact Mrs Wells:
