Careers / Education And Guidance
Mrs Watson is the Lead Teacher for Work Related Learning. She organises a programme of careers education activities for the school together with our Swadelands Careers team made up of teachers dedicated to this subject area. They include Miss Austin, Mrs Heuch, Mr Leatherbarrow, Mrs Milligan, Mrs Wickham, Mr Martel and Miss Rodden. Together with Connexions careers education and guidance is taught through a focus day structure or a series of lessons for each year group by form tutors, subject teachers and Connexions Pas. Careers education is also delivered through assemblies, option evenings and presentations from guest speakers. As a student at Swadelands, you will:
Year 7
Have an introduction to Careers education and guidance at Swadelands through meeting Connexions and visiting the careers library. You will use the Streets Ahead software package that will help you access your level of ability in a range of skills and relates these to GCSE subjects and careers. You will learn through drama on how to make decisions. You will be given a login to Plan-it that is an online system that helps you manage your own decision making processes and progression through learning, life and work.
You will also be involved in Enterprise activities that are held in school on Open Curriculum Days. These are all to help you learn Work Related Learning.
Year 8
Through the use of Kudos you will research into different Career options to help with your KS4 option choices. You will look at the Labour Market and be made aware of the sectors that are growing and declining. You will re-visit the Connexions library and meet the Connexions team. Each of you will be issued with a booklet called ‘Which Way Now?’ that will help you and your parents/carers understand the options that are available to you that will also be made clearer at Options Evening. You will explore through drama the paths your life could take. You will be given a login to Plan-it that is an online system that helps you manage your own decision making processes and progression through learning, life and work.
You will also be involved in Enterprise activities that are held in school on Open Curriculum Days. These are all to help you learn Work Related Learning.
Year 9
Using ‘The Real Game’ software package you will look at how your dream does not always match reality. Through drama you will investigate stereotyping at work. You will look at the Labour Market and see that jobs are all the time new jobs are being created, old jobs are disappearing and some are just changing name. You will revisit the Connexions Library and be re-introduced to our Connexions Pas. You will be given a login to Plan-it that is an online system that helps you manage your own decision making processes and progression through learning, life and work.
You will also be involved in Enterprise activities that are held in school on Open Curriculum Days. These are all to help you learn Work Related Learning.
Year 10
Will be prepared for the world of work. Your work experience placements takes place during the last week of term in July. Most of you will have seen Mrs Smith who will endeavour to get all of you placed. You should always look at the extensive database of work placements that is on the school portal. You will also be introduced to the changing world of work through a impacting video called ‘Shift Happens’ and looking a case studies of how career paths change for people. You complete role play situations that will make you aware of your rights and responsibilities at work. You will be given a login to Plan-it that is an online system that helps you manage your own decision making processes and progression through learning, life and work.
Year 11
Be issued with your ‘unlock codes’ for Kentchoices4U that will allow you to plan and give guidance regarding post 16 options – you will be guided on how to input your portfolio and generate applications. You will re-visit Plan-it and use it to help you construct your CV and produce an action plan. This will link to KentChoices4U. You will be supported in your application procedure and we will ensure that if you request a Connexions interview this will be provided. You will have a session to help you understand the difference between impartial and partial sources of careers information. You will be given a booklet called ‘It’s Your Choice’ that will give you and your parents/carers information on the choices available to you Post 16.
