Careers
Careers Lead contact details: Mrs L.Holcroft 01695-721487 holcroft@westlancs.lancs.sch.uk
Careers at West Lancashire Community High School
Our Vision
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To educate, advise and inform our students of all pathways that will lead them to employment.
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To deliver a broad and balanced careers program that will raise aspirations.
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To develop employability skills for them to be positive members of our society and our future workforce.
Aims and Purpose
- Prepare students for the transition to adult life after West Lancashire Community High School through curriculum and career learning.
- Support students in making informed decisions that are appropriate for them, learning from information provided including Labour Market Intelligence.
- Provide students with well-rounded experiences through a stable careers programme.
- Develop personal characteristics such as social skills, communication, independence and resilience through the implementation of Skills Builder and encounters with employers and employees.
- Inspire and motivate students to develop themselves as individuals and live as independently as possible.
- To provide students with the experiences of the workplace through work-related learning.
- To provide students with the opportunity to receive CEIAG and encounter career opportunities appropriate to their needs.
Teaching and Learning at Key Stage 3
- Students learn about the local community jobs and their roles.
- Students learn about themselves, their qualities and skills.
- Students learn about being independent through ASDAN Raising Aspiration Programme.
- Students take part in Enterprise Day.
Teaching and Learning at Key Stage 4
- Students learn about continued education options Post 16 through external links with education providers.
- Students learn about business and enterprise.
- Students participate in Enterprise Day.
- Students will learn about careers and employability through CDI Framework for Careers.
- Students have the opportunity to take part in two work experience placement.
Teaching and Learning at Key Stage 5
- Students learn about college and experience learning in a variety of vocational areas.
- Students learn about adult social care opportunities.
- Students learn about business and enterprise.
- Students learn about employability and getting ready for work through ASDAN Personal Development Programme and ASDAN Towards Independence.
- Students take part in a weekly work placement closely linked to their future aspirations and goals.
- Students have the opportunity to take part in community project work within the local community.
Ways I can help at home
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Encourage your child to be prepared when they take part in work experience.
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Encourage your child to be organised.
- Encourage your child to be aware of their skills and qualities.
Academic Pathways
Careers - School Pathway
Careers Journey
Please click on the link below to track the careers journey and opportunities for students and young adults at West Lancashire Community High School.
Careers Journey
Gatsby Benchmarks
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The eight Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good career guidance developed to support schools and based on good practice across the world.
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More information about Gatsby Benchmarks can be found in the documents below.
Gatsby Benchmarking
Careers Policy
National Careers Week 2024
Stable Careers Programme
West Lancashire Community High school provides stable careers learning for all students from Y7 to Y14. The programme of study within each Key Stage provides students with learning experiences and opportunities to allow them identify their aspiration and goals. In addition to this all students develop their skills through the Skillsbuilder programme.
The careers programme is supportive of student's abilities, strengths and skills.
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Careers CONTEXT |
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General statement putting the teaching and learning in context of the heading e.g. teaching and learning whole school.
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Key Stage 3 |
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IMPLEMENTATION |
IMPACT |
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What is the intention of teaching and learning?
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How will it be implemented?
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How will we measure or monitor impact of teaching and learning?
English in the real world using functional skills required in the community.
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Careers Events |
Enterprise - Christmas Markets
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Educational Visits linked to termly theme and Skill Builder |
Guest Speakers as part of National Careers Week. |
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Key Stage 4 |
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IMPLEMENTATION |
IMPACT |
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What is the intention of teaching and learning?
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How will it be implemented?
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How will we measure or monitor impact of teaching and learning?
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Career Events |
work placements at the end of KS4 DWP sessions to take place for Y11 students Skills Builder - Challenge Days
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Work Experience Placement Mini Enterprise for Y10’s to run at the same time as the 2 week work placement dates – Enterprise Fortnight. Enterprise – Horitculture Open Day |
College Visits – Taster sessions Transition Events – 3 weeks transition support for Y11 students moving to KS5 Guest speakers – National Careers weeks.
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Key Stage 5 |
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INTENT |
IMPLEMENTATION |
IMPACT |
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What is the intention of teaching and learning?
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How will it be implemented?
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How will we measure or monitor impact of teaching and learning?
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Careers Events |
College Open Days Guest Speakers Enterprise – Christmas Markets Weekly work placement |
College visits and taster sessions Weekly work placement |
College visits and taster sessions University visits and interactions Guest speakers Weekly work placement
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College/Social Enterprise Link |
10 week college placement Weekly social enterprise placement Skills Builder – Challenge Days |
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SKILLS BUILDER |
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Speaking |
Listening |
Creativity |
Problem Solving |
Aiming High |
Staying Positive |
Teamwork |
Leadership |
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EHCP review and student voice Guest speakers Work experience opportunities Career presentations Interview opportunities Employer engagement LOtC visits Residential
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Health and Safety in the work place LOtC visits Career talks Work experience Residential
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CV writing Personal statement writing Residential Duke of Edinburgh |
Learning about course options and pathway routes Learning new skills LOtC in the community Public transport training Residential
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Work placement opportunities Develop new skills Business engagement Guest speakers Interview experience Residential CV writing
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Work experience Interview experience Learning new skills Developing independence Learning in the community Residential Job applications
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Work experience Whole class activities Residential
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Work experience Whole class and group activities Residential
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LOtC |
Educational visits – business engagement, asking employees about the jobs they do and skills & qualities needed. Guest speakers Work experience Residential and adventurous activity days Visits to local colleges/college links
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KS3 - 3 Year Long Term Overview
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Subject
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Autumn Term Theme |
Spring Term Theme |
Summer Term Theme |
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Cycle 1 |
Celebration Awareness of the Working World Section 2 – Jobs in my Community Section 6 – Visiting a workplace
Being Independent Section 4 – Making a drink or a snack |
My Environment Engaging in the Community Section 1 – Places I visit Section 4 – The environment
Being Independent Section 6 - Dangers |
Space Looking after Myself Section 4 – Feelings Section 3 – Personal hygiene
Being Independent Section 5 – Using Technology |
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Cycle 2 |
Around the World Looking after Myself Section 6 – Choosing clothes Section 2 - Eating Healthy
Being Independent Section 2 – Jobs I do at home |
Farm to Fork Awareness of the Working World Section 4 – Working outdoors Section 5 – Equipment used at work
Being Independent Section 4 – Making a drink or a snack |
Lights Camera Action Engaging in the Community Section 3 – Clubs & Events Section 5 – Helping others
Being Independent Section 5 – Using Technology |
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Cycle 3 |
Best of British Engagement in the Community Section 2 – Help and support Section 6 – Travel and transport
Being Independent Section 3 – Using kitchen appliances
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Looking After Me Looking after Myself Section 1 – Being Active Section 5 – Local health services
Being Independent Section 1 – Personal information
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Animal Kingdom Awareness of the Working World Section 1 – Jobs my family and friends do Section 4 – Working indoors
Being Independent Section 6 - Dangers |
KS4 - 2 Year Long Term Overview
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Subject
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Autumn Term Theme |
Spring Term Theme |
Summer Term Theme |
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Cycle 1 |
Grow through Life Learning pathways – what can be gained from information? Skills needed in Life and Work Explore Possibilities Using career information resources to gain knowledge of career options |
Manage Career Parents and students working together to think about and plan future career Employer Engagement Create Opportunities Social enterprise programme, opportunities and challenges |
Balance Life and Work Mental health and physical well-being Learning about adult life See the Big Picture Researching issues in the labour market |
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Cycle 2 |
Grow through Life Self-reflection – thinking about themselves, strengths and aspirations Reflecting on achievements Explore Possibilities Looking at company and sector specific resources Look at job vacancies
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Manage Career Guest speaker – bringing employers and employees to talk to students Project management and decision making Create Opportunities Taking part in social enterprise challenges linked with business engagement |
Balance Life and Work Rights and responsibilities Learning about finances Learning about stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination See the Big Picture Thinking about the relationship between careers, politics and social issues. |
KS5 - 3 Year Long Term Overview
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Subject (PDP/Life Skill Challenges) |
Autumn Term Theme |
Spring Term Theme |
Summer Term Theme |
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Cycle 1 |
1.Communication 1A2 – Obtain information in different ways 1A8 – Obtain information from different sources Life Skill challenges 2771 – Finding out about jobs and careers |
1.Communication 1A9 – Write a formal letter, email or complete a form 2.My Community 2A4 – Visit public services in your community Life Skill challenges 4890 –Personal letter writing 3723 – Access pubic services |
2.My Community 2A5 – Find out about local community issues 6.Number Handling 6A5 – Find out about wages, taxes and pension Life Skill challenges 6846 – Literacy activities relating to the local community 5430 – Money Management |
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Cycle 2 |
8.World of Work 8A1 – Talk to a careers advisers about your future plans 8A2 – Find out about local job opportunities Life Skill Challenges 4725 – Options for the future 3727 – Researching jobs and careers |
8.World of Work 8A3 – Learn about the job application process 2.My Community 2A3 – Collect information about a social or local issue Life Skill Challenges 6390- Awareness of jobs and myself 1181 – social appropriateness in own community |
8.World of Work 8A5 – Carry out research on Post 16/Post 19 provision Life Skill Challenges 4724 – Post 16 Options |
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Cycle 3 |
8.World of Work 8A7 – Role play different workplace scenarios 5.My Environment 5B3 – Visit a recycling centre Life Skill Challenges 4960 -Script Writing and Role Play 2661 - Recycling |
8.World of Work 8A6 - Find out more about places of employment 8A9 – Find out about local employment opportunities 8B4 – Carry out an in-depth study of a local company Life Skill Challenges 2673 – Exploring Job Opportunities |
8.World of Work 8A4 – Visit sixth form centre or similar institutions 8A8 – Take part in a mock interview Life Skill Challenges 4877 – Interview preparation 6228 – Transition to College |
Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
Students and families are provided with opportunities to gather information about the local offer. Students are provided with an opportunity to identify and discuss their aspirations and goals through the career element within their annual reviews. Families are supported with career information through annual reviews and transition events, including transition coffee morning and 1:1 support meetings.
LMIforall.org.uk provides some useful interactive resources to help support research into career options.
LMI for all Skillsometer - can help you discover what jobs you might like to do in the future. You will be presented with a series of statements. Select the emoji shows how you feel about each statement. You will then be given suggestions of jobs linked to what you most enjoy doing. For each job, you will be presented with some headline UK data.
https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/cm3/widget.html
LMI for all Careersometer - can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers. It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as description of the occupation. Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected.
https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/cm2/index.html
Lancashire Careers Hub
“Portal” is the current Careers Information Advice and Guidance Presentation for each of Lancashire’s six Travel to Work Areas.
'These resources were designed in conjunction with both Careers Professionals and Young People and are designed to present the latest Labour Market Information for each Travel to Work Area in an engaging and accessible format. Over 1,300 young people in Lancashire were surveyed to come up with a design style and tone that speaks to them, and a focus group of young people in Lancashire decided the result.'
Take a look through the portals below as to what is happening in areas where you live.
Lancashire Careers Information - LMI for all
Lancashire Careers Information - Preston, Chorley and South Ribble
Addressing the needs of each student
All students at West Lancashire Community High School have an Education, Health and Care Plan. Through the annual review process student needs are identified and support is put in place to enable them to fulfil their potential.
As students progress through school, all students in Y11 onwards are provided with work related learning. Students in Y11 are provided with the opportunity to take part in a two week work placement with students in Y12-Y14 given the opportunity to extend this to a weekly work placement for an academic year. Students are supported throughout the process and opportunities include 1:1 placements, small group supported placements and independent placements.
Linking Curriculum to Careers
West Lancashire Community High School has recently achieved Bronze award through Skillsbuilder. Skillsbuilder is embedded throughout the schools curriculum programmes and helps to develop and build the skills of the students as they become young adults and preparing them for being an adult in the wider community and employment.
Skillbuilder Principles
Keep it simple – consistent focus on the same skills, using the same language
Start early, keep going – mastering essential skills, using the same language
Measure it – identify progress and show next steps through observation and self-assessment
Focus tightly – building skills on a learners previous development and skill attainment
Keep practising – opportunities for reflection
Bring it to life – linking skills to the wider world
Skills Builder Overview
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Autumn |
Spring |
Summer
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Speaking and Listening
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Creativity & Problem solving |
Aiming High & Staying Positive |
Leadership & Teamwork
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Skills Builder is best when embedded throughout the curriculum, using the same language and consistent approach to enable students to develop skills to help them thrive.
‘We have learned a lot over the years about how best to build essential skills. We know that to have a real impact, the skills must be developed with consistency and focus. These principles hold true in every setting and for all learners’.
Skillsbuilder Parntership School
https://www.skillsbuilder.org/case-study/west-lancashire-community-high-school
Encounters with Employers and Employees
Students at West Lancashire Community School are provided with opportunities and experiences to encounters employers and employees every year they are at school. These encounters result in a better understanding of the workplace and the potential career paths open to them.
Experiences of workplaces
Student have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to broaden their understanding and exploration of career opportunities.
As a school we work closely with many businesses who support our work placement opportunities and educational visits to the workplace.
If you are a business or an employer who would like to get involved in our careers programme to support our students, we'd love to hear from you.
Encounters with Further and Higher Education
Meaningful encounters with providers cover a wide range of ways young people can learn about their compulsory post-school options. Students at West Lancashire Community High are provide with off-site visits and direct interactions with key institutions, staff, and alumni which include local college and social care options. These encounters cover the full range of learning opportunities available to students.
Students and families are supported during these encounters to provide them with the information to inform future choices.
Personal Guidance
The term ‘career guidance’ is used to describe the full range of career-related interventions which support young people to make choices and to develop their career thinking.
West Lancashire Community High School offers support for all students as they approach their transitions years.
Transition Guide Booklet
Careers - College Open Days
Related Blog Posts
KS4L Work Experience
Year 11 pupils have truly shone during their work experience placements.
They sang, danced, planted beautiful flowers, and even helped to support others with therapy dogs – a week full of confidence-building and kindness.
They have worked hard increasing their self help and independence…
KS4 Mini Enterprise
Year 10 students really enjoyed their mini cafe enterprise project. They offered brekkie baps to staff for £2.00 and made a small profit which they will explore further in their maths lessons next week. Everyone worked as part of a team and loved every minute of this learning. Well done!!!
Hoovering in KS3S
Students in KS3S have been hoovering as part of their ASDAN Raising Aspirations program in Careers, which aims to support their life skills. Students enjoyed locating the plug socket and using it safely, exploring how the hoover worked and then hoovering up the mess the staff left on the…