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Careers Guidance
At Whitstone School, we want our students to have every opportunity to fulfil their future career aspirations.
Therefore, we believe it is of paramount importance for students to make informed choices about their next steps when they make decisions about their education and training beyond Whitstone School.
Preparing students for the world of work and helping with their employability is a key priority for us and we are committed to providing a planned programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance for all students in Years 7-11. This includes personal guidance, careers focused lessons, and opportunities to attend careers fairs, and hear talks by local businesses.
Post 16 Education and Training
See our dedicated page on opportunities available to Whitstone students after GCSE, including 6th forms, colleges and apprenticeships on our Post 16 Options page.
Personal Guidance
Our Careers Advisor holds one-to-one careers interviews in the careers area of the library throughout the week to help our students to plan their next steps.
Students can request an appointment by signing up on the careers noticeboard in the library or by speaking to the Careers Advisor directly at break. Further information or help is available in the library, including access to careers resources.
If a parent should want to contact the Careers Advisor, they can do so using the details on the Contact Us page.
Work Experience
We offer work experience at Whitstone School to enable pupils to gain valuable experience of the world of work and to demonstrate their skills and abilities whilst working within a team of adults in a real working environment.
Work experience for students at Whitstone School is arranged for a block week during term 6 in year 10. Our PSHE team supports each student in finding a suitable placement, ensuring all of the relevant health and safety checks are in place, as well as ensuring the environment is suitable for that particular student and their future aspirations. We are lucky to be able to work with a range of proactive local companies to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to spend time in the world of work, enhancing their employability skills.
Teachers and Curriculum
Our PSHE / ECC Curriculum, ensures that the key skills and essential knowledge we have identified permeate our curriculum from year 7 to year 11, allowing our pupils to make links in their learning as well as develop the ability to think more deeply about what they are learning. In this respect, pupils’ learning is meaningful and purposeful, and designed in a range of contexts, which offer breadth and variety to their learning.
All teachers include careers into their lessons, to develop student’s employability skills. Staff have access to a wide range of resources on the school internal system to showcase careers in their subject lessons and can contact the careers lead for help and support about how to showcase careers in the curriculum.
Teachers have access to careers resources for each subject via the Careers lead and the internal resource bank.
Employers
We are always pleased to hear from any local or national businesses who can offer careers support to our students. If you would like to offer:
a work experience placement
a talk or presentation about your company or working in your industry
a student visit to your business or company
a place at our annual careers fair
If you would like to get involved, please contact the careers team here at Whitstone School.
GENERAL CAREERS INFORMATION:
There is a whole host of information, ideas and links on this document:
UniStats - for comparing UK higher education course data
Train4all Construction Training
Amazingapprenticeships.com - Information for parents and carers about apprenticeships
The Parent’s Guide to What’s next 2023-24 - all the information you need for options at 16-18, T-Levels and Apprenticeships, University and UCAS and information on life after school.
For the latest addition of Career Mag please click here
