Senior School Year 9 -11
The aim across the Senior School is for pupils to incrementally build a clear vision for their post-16 options. Pupils currently stay with their form tutor during the three Senior School years, tutors are encouraged to take an active role in the mentoring of pupils in relation to careers.
Vulnerable pupils in Senior School, including those with special educational needs are provided with additional advice and guidance in conjunction with the learning support department to ensure they are able to access the post-16 opportunities available to them. For example, they are given additional one-to-one impartial careers interviews with a North Tyneside advisor before Year 11 and are invited to attend the Future First SEN Careers Fair in April/May each year.
Year 9
PHSE lessons focus on careers during the summer term. This programme allows pupils to consider how to successfully navigate work, study and careers, reflect on their strengths, develop and awareness of the opportunities available to them and learn how to manage their online presence. The series of PSHE lessons culminates with a Year 9 careers fair at the end of the summer term with a range of employers and further education providers on hand to offer expert and impartial advice on future career choices. This is supported by our school enterprise advisor.
Year 10
Building on their earlier opportunity in year 5, in year 10, all pupils have a second annual University visit to one of the region’s institutions.
Interested Year 10 pupils are given advice on making applications to competitive universities from the University of Cambridge outreach team and given the opportunity to attend a Residential visit to the University in the Summer Term.
Pupils engage with well-regarded Building My Skills local careers programme led by Esh Group. This extensive scheme allows pupils to make real-life contacts with the world of work. Presenters from a variety of businesses deliver sessions in school with the whole year group involved in the sessions which are once every half-term. Pupils then complete time-sensitive tasks with their tutors which are then submitted to Esh for reviewing. The programme enables pupils to become better informed about the expectations of employers before Year 10 and the educational and employment possibilities post-16. The programme also reflects the school’s desire to build strong relationships with employers. The Building My Skills programme provides the foundation for preparation for Year 10 work experience, which takes place for all Year 10 pupils during the summer term.
Preparation for work experience and for the wider world is also supported with a mock interview day attended by over 20 local employers, where the whole cohort are able to experience a ‘live’ interview with real employers and gain valuable personalised feedback.
Year 10 PHSE lessons focus on careers during the summer term in preparation for the aforementioned work experience in the penultimate week of the school year. This programme allows pupils to consider how to make a good first impression, and then directly focuses on ensuring that they are well prepared for their work experience
Year 11
Pupils start the school year by having pathway meetings with senior staff. This is set in context by a visit from a North Tyneside Careers Advisor who explains to pupils the possible post-16 routes. Pupils then all receive personalised advice in this key transitional year group. Each pupil has at least one 1-to-1 interview with a North Tyneside Connexions advisor. This interview lasts for 30 minutes and the advisor is able to offer impartial advice about the range of options available to the pupil, who remains the priority. Access to the school’s Sixth Form is discussed alongside all other options with the aim of ensuring as few as possible of the Year 11 leavers become NEET. Where required additional (follow-up) interview may be arranged with a North Tyneside Connexions advisor if the pupil requires further impartial assistance.
Following the discontinuation of the DFE’s ASK programme through our longstanding partners BL training, we have secured the services of the DWPs Melissa Laverick to offer impartial advice on apprenticeship pathways. Workshop sessions are run for those who are not considering A-Levels to offer additional support alongside the impartial expert advice from NT Connexions.
Interested Year 11 pupils are given advice on making applications to competitive universities from the University of Cambridge outreach team.
To further support Year 11 pupils with their next steps, the whole cohort attend the annual ‘National Apprenticeship Show and University Fest’ Careers Event in the Spring.
