The Ridgeway School and 6th Form Careers Overview

The Ridgeway Careers Curriculum provides students with inspirational, achievable and current information, advice and guidance to allow individuals to make informed choices for their future. 

Each year group has dedicated mentoring career sessions each term specific to their year progression in addition to whole specific days or weeks targeted at key points in the year. Eg Yr 7 employer Q and A, Yr10 Employer Interview day, Yr12 UCAS days and WEX week (Yr 10 & 12) where students engage with external employers.

Furthermore we provide membership for every student to a dedicated careers site with a variety of tools and resources and students have access to an independent careers adviser for bespoke support and guidance. 

Key Outcomes:

By the end of Key Stage 3:

  1. Develop an awareness of individual skills, strengths and preferred learning styles in relation to Key Stage 4 options
  2. Research different careers analysing skills and educational requirements.
  3. Receive careers information and on-going support from staff such as their mentor. 
  4. Have taken part in an enterprise activity through an external business.
  5. All students meet with a variety of different employers and able to ask questions about the careers. 

By the end of Key Stage 4/5:

  1. Be offered at least one individual appointment with a Careers advisor and given advice and guidance on post-16 education, employment and training and apprenticeship options
  2. Devise an action plan towards your career goals
  3. Have listened to talks on different careers
  4. Have been given the opportunity to speak to representatives from various sectors of the world of work
  5. Have developed financial capability skills
  6. Have produced and reviewed a curriculum vitae
  7. Have written a formal letter, e.g. covering letter
  8. Have a formal interview experience with an employee from an external business or company
  9. Take part in a formal Work Experience programme
  10. Develop presentation and interview skills
  11. Be offered the opportunity to take part in taster days/ sessions for post 16 destinations eg 6th form taster day and College experience days.

 

Year 7 - A Wide World of Choices

Aim - Pupils will have awareness that there are a wide range of careers which may be suitable for them and to know how to research an area of particular interest.

During mentoring students will investigate and research careers that are new to them. They will develop presentation & research skills presenting their findings to the mentor group. In each career, they will research potential skills, education, conditions and what a typical day is like.

Mentoring programme Career sessions include:

  • Your Personal Journey
  • Unifrog - Intro
  • The World of Work
  • Who Am I?
  • GREEN CAREERS WEEK
  • Exploring possibilities
  • What is a Career?
  • What is an Entrepreneur
  • National Apprenticeship Week
  • STEP INTO THE NHS
  • National Careers Week
  • What is a work life balance?
  • FE and HE
  • Personal Skills
  • My Path Careers

Career Event Day:

Employer engagement day where students hear from different employers and able to ask questions and explore a variety of different careers.

 

Year 8 - How The Working World Works

Aim - Pupils will gain an understanding of the skills required to develop careers  successfully and develop and the link between career and personal well being

All students will analyse their leadership and teamwork skills during mentoring and discuss what these bring to the workplace.

Mentoring programme Career sessions include: 

  • Your Personal Journey                   
  • The World of Work
  • Who Am I?
  • GREEN CAREERS WEEK
  • Exploring possibilities
  • Challenges and Rewards of Work 
  • Your Pathways
  • Creating the vision you want 
  • National Apprenticeship Week 
  • What does success mean to me? 
  • National Careers Week
  • What is a work life balance?
  • Careers & the Climate
  • Careers - Public Services
  • FE and HE
  • Personal Skills
  • My Path Careers

Career Event Day 

All students will participate in an employability enterprise day via a local external business where they will need to work in groups to design and build a new software app. This will test all areas of teamwork and leadership skills and learn about running a business for the consumer market.

 

Year 9  -   Choosing Your Options

Aim - Pupils will have been given the knowledge and skills to make right decisions about their GCSE options. Pupils will have also develop their knowledge and understanding of different careers and the skills and qualifications needed to pursue these types of careers. 

Year 9 is the moment where students really begin to craft their future by making decisions which will affect their potential career. In order to ensure all  students have the skills and knowledge to do this successfully they will:

  • Have a dedicated 1:1 careers tracking interview with mentor.
  • Have an opportunity to discuss potential subjects with teachers and  Heads of Departments in parents evening and  options evening.
  • Students will be given an opportunity to attend the Swindon Careers Fayre held at STEAM museum
  • Selected students will be invited to attend University open days

Mentoring programme Career sessions include: 

  • Your Personal Journey                   
  • GREEN CAREERS WEEK
  • Exploring Employer Profiles 
  • What comes after school?
  • Choosing what to study at KS4 
  • Taking control of your careers journey
  • National Apprenticeship Week 
  • Managing your money 
  • National Careers Week
  • What is LMI
  • Careers in Curriculum Project
  • FE and HE
  • Personal Skills
  • My Path Careers
  • Career Event Specific days
  • Options Evening

Career Event Day 

All students will participate in an Employer Visitor day as part of their preparation for options where students will experience a   range of presentations by different employers and businesses exploring the skills and qualifications needed to pursue a career in their particular field

 

Year 10 -   Exploring the World of Work

Aim - To be able to evaluate and have a good understanding of suitable jobs  and to know what it takes to be successful in a job interview. 

  • All students will take part in an employer mock interview day where 50+ local employers visit the school for each student to have a Mock interview to prepare them for the world of work.

Mentoring programme Career sessions include: 

  • Your Personal Journey
  • GREEN CAREERS WEEK
  • Exploring Employer Profiles
  • What type of career is best for me?
  • Work Experience Launch
  • Work Experience part 2 Preparing for interviews 
  • National Apprenticeship Week
  • Study Higher
  • National Careers Week
  • Presenting yourself and skills needed
  • What comes next after school
  • FE and HE
  • Personal Skills
  • My Path Careers
  • Interviews with employers day (all)
  • Yr10 into R6 day (experience life as a 6th former)
  • College experience days/University visits 
  • Work Experience Week July (all)

Career Event Day x2

Students will interact with employers from community with each student receiving a mock interview.

Students will also gain an insight into the world of work by preparing for and taking part in an external work experience for 3-5 days in the summer term.

 

Year 11  -   The Next Steps

Aim – Students apply what they have learnt to make informed decisions on their future. Students will be supported to ensure they maximise their potential to reach their intended destination.   

  • Receive a 1:1 Careers Interview with an independent careers adviser
  • Receive information from local colleges for academic and vocational pathways available to them
  • Be invited to R6 and other Colleges open evenings.
  • Selected students will attend Swindon College to see the courses  available to them. 
  • Students who need support will be offered a follow on interview that will support them through the application process.
  • Any student undecided will receive bespoke 1:1 support in finding their  perfect destination.

Mentoring programme Career sessions include: 

Setting Goals 

Preparing for exams

Post 16 applications

R6 Assembly and introduction

GREEN CAREERS WEEK

National Apprenticeship Week

Study Higher

National Careers Week

What comes next after school

FE and HE

ApprenTFest STEAM 11th Feb

College experience days 

Employer visits into school

Specific Curriculum trips and visits to employers 

 

Year 12- Exploring possible opportunities and choice in local area and beyond 


Term 1- Friday 18th October – UCAS Discovery Day at UWE Bristol Universities and Apprenticeship providers – all Year 12 

Term 2 – Visiting speakers - Deloitte Higher Apprenticeships (R6 Alumni delivered), RAF Careers, Police, Dyson – 4 consecutive weeks

Term 3 – National Apprenticeship week 10-15th Feb activities and information. ApprenTFest STEAM 11th Feb

Term 4 – University visit – all Year 12 TBC

Term 5 – Friday 2nd May – Med/ Healthcare student visit Prospect Hospice

Term 6 – Work Shadowing week 23rd June

Progression Day – external speakers – Study Higher, universities, UCAS sign up, Alumni Q & A fair

 

Year 13- Refining and Pursuing chosen next steps and destinations
 

Mentoring programme plus:

One-one support – R6 Student Advisor and R6 Team with applications to universities and conservatoires through UCAS, researching alternative options, apprenticeship applications, mock interviews for universities and employment.

Alumni student meetings on Teams for specific subjects/ career pathways

Visit –13th Nov NEC Birmingham School Leavers Festival for students unsure of plans post 18

Access to visiting speakers - Deloitte Higher Apprenticeships (R6 Alumni delivered), RAF Careers, Police, Dyson – 4 consecutive weeks