Young people now have to make more decisions and choices about their lifestyle, education and future careers than any previous generation. Never before has the need for good information, advice and guidance been more essential. The Government requires that all young people stay in learning i.e. training or education until they are 18. This is known as 'raising the participation age'. Raising the participation age does not necessarily mean that young people must stay in school.

 

They must however choose one of the following options:

 

• Full time education, such as School Sixth Form, a Further Education or Sixth Form College or a training provider
• Apprenticeships or other work-based learning routes
• Employment with training

 

Advice and guidance are closely linked to related activities such as tutoring, progress reviews, academic monitoring and mentoring. Through these activities the CEIAG staff can help students look at future options and identify when students need to be referred to advisors for more in-depth guidance.

Our level 6 qualified Careers Advisor is available to provide guidance to students. All students will have the opportunity for a one to one career guidance interview to discuss their future plans and ideas. This will include opportunities to discuss career aims and the options available after their GCSEs (post-16 & post-18).

We aim to ensure that our students are self-confident, skilled and career-ready through our integrated programme of high-quality careers activities, advice and guidance.

Planned and progressive programmes of activities in the curriculum help students to develop the knowledge and skills to increase self and opportunity awareness, make well-informed decisions and transition successfully on to the next stage.

 

Students at Wimbledon College benefit from the following:

● Meaningful encounters with employers to aid student understanding of the job market and what is required to be successful at work

● Access to a variety of activities that informs and inspires them, including drop down days, assemblies, employer talks, careers fairs, motivational speakers, planned visits to organisations, colleges and universities. This is supported by links with local employers which helps to improve attitudes and employability skills

● Access to a range of local employers where students learn about the range of roles and opportunities available to them

● Work experience provision where it is appropriate and beneficial

● Face to face careers advice provided by our impartial Level 6 qualified Careers Advisor to advise on options available at Post-16 and Post-18

● Coordinated support from external agencies including the local authority where students are vulnerable, have special educational needs or are at risk of becoming NEET

● Information, including local Labour Market Information from a range of agencies to develop a smoother pathway between education and work

● Activities during Tutor Time in all year groups that promotes awareness of a wide range of career opportunities and progression routes

● Individual meeting with regard to careers prior to Year 11 options

● Career and work-related activities within subject areas

● Tailored support for all statemented and EHCP students through their annual reviews

● Displays around the school

Wimbledon College has invested in the Unifrog careers platform to which all students from Year 7-13 have access. This provides up-to-date market guidance as well as access to university and apprenticeship applications. Students are encouraged to visit the school website for further guidance in the careers section.

The school provides a Post 16 programme for sixth form students which includes regular notification of local/national apprenticeship opportunities, as well as termly pathways days which provide opportunities for encounters with employers and higher education providers.

Additional Opportunities

Students in KS4 and 5 will benefit from a range of further opportunities to help support their progression to further study or employment. These are subject to regular review, but will include the following key elements:

● Student talks with our alumni network to support current students through decision making and personalised information on specific career paths

● Workshops for Sixth Form students to increase knowledge and awareness of local and national career opportunities, student Finance and the UCAS Process

● Access to the HE+ programme to support students with applications to Russell Group universities

● Tailored support for students considering Medicine, Law or applications to Oxbridge

● Support for parents at Year 9 and 11 parents’ evenings and pathways evenings

 

Labour Market Information

Wimbledon College has a close working relationship with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is a member of the South London Careers Hub.

High quality information regarding the Local Labour Market can help our students to understand:

1. Where the jobs are locally

2. Skills and qualities needed in the future

3. Potential growth sectors

Labour Market Information (LMI) is a useful tool to help research future jobs in the local area, understand the skills needed for certain roles and the demand for future employment. Boys have access to this information through their Unifrog accounts where they can search specific jobs and whether they are a growing sector of employment. We would also recommend using the tools below to help understand the Labour Market in more detail.

We are committed to providing a planned programme of CEIAG which recognises the important role that careers education/work-related learning plays in preparing and supporting young people to sustain employability and achieve personal and economic wellbeing throughout their lives.