Careers And Work Experience
Careers and Work Experience Lead: Mr J Slattery
It is part of the vision and mission of the school that all learners need a planned programme of activities to help them choose 14 – 19 pathways that are right for them and equip them to manage their careers, sustain employability and achieve personal and economic well-being throughout their lives.
Chipping Campden School provides learners with an age appropriate programme from years 7 – 13 including: access to impartial careers information, advice, and guidance; taught careers education as part of the curriculum; work experience placements in Key stages 4 and 5; and extra support as required for learners with special educational needs, those who are disadvantaged or Looked after Children. The programme contributes to strategies for raising achievement, especially by increasing motivation; raising aspiration, supporting inclusion, challenging stereotyping and promoting equality and diversity.
In addition to Unifrog, a comprehensive Careers Program is planned for every year group. Chipping Campden School’s Career Program for 2022-23 is available to download from downloads section at the bottom of this page.
Furthermore, all students are able to access “Employment & Further Education” on COLIN. Within this, they can explore local Colleges of Further Education, Apprenticeships, Labour Market Information, and all Vacancies (Apprenticeships, Part Time Work, and Casual Work) which local employers have notified the school of.
The school endeavours to follow best practice guidance from the careers profession and from other expert bodies, utilising services from County Careers Ltd to provide the opportunity for one to one interviews in Key Stages 4 and 5.
Parental involvement is encouraged at all stages. Online resources have been specifically chosen to help parents become more involved. Parents are actively encouraged to work with their child in using Unifrog. This will enable parents to help their child equip themselves with the knowledge and information required to build a future career. In addition to using Unifrog, parents are encouraged to access “The Careers Pilot” (https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/) website which provides excellent advice and guidance from Age 11 – 19.
Parents are kept up to date with careers related information through letters, newsletters and at both parents evenings and open evenings. Parents are welcome at careers interviews and, where necessary, are invited to attend. Independent Advice and Guidance support can be made available at Parents’ Evenings, by appointment.
Events and activities are planned at key decision-making points. The Higher Education and Employment Conference, for example takes place annually for year 12 students in June. Year 9 Options Evening, the Sixth Form Open Evening and UCAS Information Evening, provide further opportunities for parents to be informed and involved in decision-making.
Student Work Experience
Work experience remains a very important part of life in Chipping Campden School. It is undertaken in Year 10 and Year 12. In 2022-23, Work experience for Year 10 will be June 26th to June 30th 2023 inclusive. Work experience for Year 12 will run from July 10th – 14th 2023 inclusive.
Work placements provide our students with a wonderful opportunity to gain a better understanding of what goes on in a place of work. It allows our students to work with professional employees and to take on tasks which will allow them to work independently within a working environment. Students get a much better understanding of working practices and develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to allow them to progress further in training and education.
Feedback from previous years has pointed towards Work Experience being particularly useful in giving our students a very realistic insight in the place of work. Student have reported back that they particularly value the opportunity to learn how to work independently, act on their initiative, follow instructions, and take an active part in team work. For the school, it has played a valuable role in helping our young people to think about their own career and aspirations.
There are guidelines concerning work placements which will be set down by the school and these must be followed. For example, students will not be allowed to work for parents and every ‘job’ chosen must have a recognised career structure. Equally, work placements have to be approved by school before they can be accepted, and certain jobs may be deemed too dangerous, e.g. working with some forms of machinery. More information will be supplied at a later date. Students may consider placements throughout the South West and West Midlands area. However, remaining local is prefered due the convenience of travel.
Students need to find placements as early as possible. Many employers work on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis for taking work experience students. The Work Experience Placement Request Form is attached and must be completed by you as parent and the placement representative before returning it to school for approval.
All students will be insured to work on premises that have been approved by the school. It is also hoped that parents who have a business of their own will give consideration to take a student for a work experience programme.
Please contact Mr Slattery at school if you have any queries. Mr Slattery can be contacted on 01386-840216 or emailed at jslattery@campden.school
Unifrog
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance on learning, training, career choice, career development, job search, and the labour market. It can be accessed online, by telephone, and face to face (for people aged 19 and over). The National Careers Service is available to anyone aged 13+ no matter what stage of the careers journey they are at.
For a video giving oversight of our careers programme, click on this presentation by Mr Slattery.
