At Wandle Valley Academy we are committed to providing a stable careers programme, through a combination of high quality teaching, personalised guidance and a range of further education and work experience opportunities.
At Wandle Valley we are continually seeking additional opportunities to inspire our pupils in the world of work. If you think you could help, please contact randrews@wandlevalleyacademy.org.uk.
Wandle Valley Academy is committed to providing students with regular opportunities to meet local employers and training providers. Our Provider Access Policy gives details of how training providers and potential employers can either visit the school or offer educational tours/placements of their work-place; providing students with guidance towards potential career pathways and opportunities.
The Gatsby Benchmarks (https://www.goodcareerguidance.org.uk) are a key measure of the effectiveness of careers advice and are central to the Government’s Careers strategy. To ensure our students receive the highest quality of careers guidance, we will be working towards meeting all eight of the Gatsby Benchmarks by the end of 2020, in line with DfE expectations. The focus of the benchmarks are:
- A Stable Careers Programme
- Learning from Career and Labour Market Information.
- Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
- Linking Curriculum Learning to Carers
- Encounters with Employers and Employees
- Experience of Work Places
- Encounters with Further Education
- Personal Guidance
From the Primary department, through to leaving in Year 11, students at Wandle Valley Academy have access to a broad and varied Careers Programme:
Primaries
‘Careers Week’ including a dress-up day and visits from Public Services inc. Fire Brigade/Police Dogs
Year 7 and 8
Individual termly meetings with Careers Advisor
Workshops from visiting speakers
Visits to local employers
‘Careers Week’ including a dress-up day and visits from Public Services inc. Fire Brigade/Police Dogs
Life Skills and Preparation for Work units covered through the PSHE curriculum.
Year 9
Individual termly meetings with Careers Advisor
Workshops from visiting speakers
Visits to local employers
‘Careers Week’ culminating in ‘Careers Open Morning’, attended by 30+ local employers/training providers, offering informal interviews and further information
Volunteering opportunities in local area
Options Evening inc. visiting representatives from local training providers/colleges
Life Skills and Preparation for Work units covered through the PSHE curriculum.
Year 10
Individual termly meetings with Careers Advisor
Workshops from visiting speakers
Visits to local employers and training providers
‘Careers Week’ culminating in ‘Careers Open Morning’, attended by 30+ local employers/training providers, offering informal interviews and further information
Volunteering opportunities in local area
KS4 Parents Evening inc. visiting representatives from local training providers/colleges
Work Experience placement (1 week, usually in May)
Princess Diana Mentoring Programme - an employability programme delivered via weekly sessions
Mock interviews (pre and post work experience) with external professionals.
‘Way to work’ taster sessions – run through Carshalton College/JACE
Commence Princes Trust units in weekly Careers Lessons.
Year 11
Individual termly meetings with Careers Advisor
Workshops from visiting speakers
Visits to local employers and training providers
‘Careers Week’ culminating in ‘Careers Open Morning’, attended by 30+ local employers/training providers, offering informal interviews and further information
KS4 Parents Evening inc. visiting representatives from local training providers/colleges
Princess Diana Mentoring Programme - an employability programme delivered via weekly sessions
Continuing Princes Trust units in weekly Careers Lessons
Mock interview with external professional
Visit to The Quad to view NEET services available
Visits from local training provider representatives, to support post-16 course application forms
One to one support at initial visits and Learning Support interviews at prospective colleges, where required.
At Wandle Valley Academy we analyse our destination data and ensure that all of our leavers access Education, Employment or Training. We also collate information of our students’ destinations and forward onto the local borough for continued tracking.
The Careers Lead at our school is Rita Andrews (Careers Advisor) and can be reached via email randrews@wandlevalleyacademy.org.uk or tel: 020 8648 1365 / Mobile: 07850 058 696.
Katherine Peck (Careers, Literacy and PSHE Coordinator) has overall responsibility for the Careers programme at Wandle Valley Academy and can be contacted via email at kpeck@wandlevalleyacademy.org.uk or tel: 020 8648 1365.
Useful websites
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk Job profiles, planning tools and CV builder
www.fasttomato.com Matches personality and interests to possible careers
www.icould.com Videos, stories, news and articles, includes 'The Buzz Test' a personality based career matching tool
www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk Information aimed at 16-24 year olds
www.apprenticeships.gov.uk The National Apprenticeship service
www.plotr.co.uk Career matching tool and job finder
www.careersbox.co.uk Films, News and Information
www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/careerometer Compare career salaries
Our Careers Programme will be reviewed annually (review date July 2022)
