Careers Plan – Year 12 (2023-24)
YEAR 12 AIM: In the sixth form, careers education focuses on preparing students to make good choices, engage in work experience and understand personal development.
RATIONALE: The focus of this year is ensuring that Year 12 students fully understand the range of post-18 destinations and that they have the time and support that means they are empowered to make those decisions themselves with an understanding of all of the available routes.
Term 1
- .CAREERS SESSIONS: Introduction to 16-18 Careers Education
In weekly careers sessions, Year 12 students are taught a number of topics that are relevant to their continuing professional development (CPD). Planning for work experience is launched so the skills covered in this unit will be put into practice through the year. Topics include networking and why it is important as well as considering wider decisions they will be making this year (e.g. whether university is an option to consider).
Students revisit Morrisby in the light of their starting the next key stage; they update their preferences, retake the psychometric tests and review their learning so far.
Continue reading → - Central London Trip
Our sixth form students travel to Central London and then, in groups, complete a series of challenges as part of their enrichment programme. The trip allows them to familiarise themselves with travelling around London (as a possible future place of employment or study) as well as developing key employability and character strengths such as teamwork, communication and creativity.
Continue reading → - Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Listing
The higher and degree apprenticeship listing is released in October and January every year. This is advertised to our students in Year 13 so that they can get support in making their applications. We also encourage our Year 12 students to search the listing so that they can start planning ahead for their time in the sixth form by looking at when positions are open and closing dates.
We publish the list on Morrisby as an optional task for our students in their ‘activities’ section. They can also add any relevant steps they need to take on to their action plans.
Continue reading → - Young Enterprise: Your Money
In enrichment sessions, Year 12 students explore how their finances and financial decisions might be affected by their career and education decisions.
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Term 2
- .CAREERS SESSIONS: Work Experience Research and Planning Sessions
Year 12 students are offered weekly sessions that allow them to research and apply for their week-long work experience placement in term 6. They are offered support from our Sixth Form Team and encouraged to apply as soon as possible to get the most out of this valuable opportunity.
Topics covered include finding work experience, reaching out, action planning and writing or updating a CV.
Continue reading → - ASSEMBLY: Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University are coming to talk to our sixth form students about technical qualifications offered by universities as well as the difference between foundation years and foundation degrees.
This event is included as part of our provision to meet Provider Access Legislation (2023).
Continue reading → - Nuffield Research Placements Applications
Year 12 students who qualify for this incredible opportunity are offered support from our local STEM and Nuffield partner (Canterbury Christ Church University) who will help them with their applications for this prestigious summer programme.
Continue reading → - WORKSHOP: Little Fish Theatre Company
Drama students are invited to take part in a Theatre in Education workshop focusing on the risks of social media and relationships. As part of the day, they complete a workshop regarding further and higher education choices and routes into arts-sector careers. This included information and advice about the value of studying arts subjects at GCSE, post-16 and beyond.
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Term 3
- .CAREERS SESSIONS: National Apprenticeship Week
During careers sessions, students will be encouraged to consider whether they want a degree apprenticeship and whether this option is relevant to their career goals. We will also consider the national employer rankings for 2023 (the most up to date available) and look at the wide range of opportunities as well as trends across the job sectors.
Continue reading → - ASSEMBLY: National Apprenticeship Week 2024
This week the sixth form will have a talk from a national apprenticeship provider – CXK and ASK Apprenticeships.
This event forms part of our Provider Access arrangements for this year group.
Continue reading → - Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Listing
The higher and degree apprenticeship listing is released in October and January every year. This is advertised to our students in Year 13 so that they can get support in making their applications. We also encourage our Year 12 students to search the listing so that they can start planning ahead for their time in the sixth form by looking at when positions are open and closing dates.
We publish the list on Morrisby as an optional task for our students in their ‘activities’ section. They can also add any relevant steps they need to take on to their action plans.
Continue reading → - National Apprenticeship Week 2023: Virtual Work Experience
During National Apprenticeship Week, our Year 12 students will undertake a virtual work experience session or opportunity with an employer or apprenticeship provider. In 2023, they had 70+ options to choose from at a range of times throughout the week and 94% of students took part in live online events. If your company is offering a live virtual experience during NAW2024, please contact our careers lead.
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Term 4
- .CAREERS SESSIONS: Recruitment and selection processes
In their weekly careers sessions, students will be learning about how to present themselves effectively through online recruitment processes including online applications, video interviews, aptitude tests and online assessment centres. This is especially important following the impact that the pandemic has had on recruitment practices in the labour market.
Continue reading → - Careers Fair 2024
Wrotham School’s Careers Fair has gone from strength to strength, building on our relationships with local and national employers, apprenticeship providers, colleges and universities. The fair will feature specialised activities to support our Year 9, 10, 11 and Sixth Form students to make informed decisions about the important transitions they face.
This year, we welcome our neighbouring school Grange Park School to join our careers fair. Grange Park is a specialist school for children and young people with autism spectrum condition (ASC) from 9-19.
If you would like to find out more information, please visit the ‘Careers Events’ page.
Continue reading → - FSQ: Careers Student Voice
On computers, students will complete two evaluations. One is of their current knowledge of careers and post-18 destinations – that helps us to identify any gaps in their knowledge and to plan sessions that will help in the future. The second is of the careers programme at Wrotham School – we’d like to hear what they’ve enjoyed and what they’d recommend more of for our incoming Year 12 students next year.
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Term 5
- .CAREERS SESSIONS: UCAS Application Process Begins
Students are introduced to the UCAS Hub with information about university and apprenticeship options. In assemblies and progress time sessions, students explore their own assumptions and influences and are encouraged to be openminded in their approach to different careers, using engineering as an example. UCAS applications are started with advice and support to complete the main part of the forms by the end of Term 6, as well as support with finding and booking open days and events.
Continue reading → - Parents/Carers Information Evening: Post-18 options
As we launch our post-18 application and support sessions with Year 12, we offer a parents’ information evening which will give details on the main options available as well as giving the chance for parents and carers to ask questions and be directed to further advice and guidance.
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Term 6
- .CAREERS SESSIONS: UCAS Application and Personal Statement Writing Support Sessions
- Alternative Work Experience Week
For students who are unable to complete a week’s work experience placement due to SEN, disabilities or other extenuating circumstances, a programme of alternate activities is offered.
In 2023, this included a LinkedIn workshop, an opportunity for an in-depth virtual work experience placement/project, and a workshop about virtual career interviews from Digital Kent. An important part of the week was the opportunity for these students to conduct a short on-site visit to a range of local employers. This allowed them to gain experience of a work place and to explore careers of interest within our local community. The employers who opened their doors and welcomed small groups of our students were generous with their time and expertise and we offer our thanks.
Continue reading → - Apprenticeship Academy
A six-week programme run online by a level 6 careers advisor, Jess Pieri. This is a weekly session, held on Wednesdays from 4-5.30pm for six weeks, and is designed as a bootcamp to take students through the process of choosing, finding, applying, interviewing and managing their apprenticeship applications. Each weekly session has a specific focus and is supported by a current degree-level apprentice and an employer who offers an apprenticeship programme – these speakers will be available to answer questions. Jess is then available to offer advice, check CVs and answer questions via email. This is a service for which the school has subscribed and links will be emailed to students and parents/carers at the appropriate time in the year.
This programme runs in Terms 2 and 4 for Year 11 and 13, and Term 6 for Year 10 and Year 12.
Continue reading → - Volunteering: Wrotham Walk and Sports Day
- Work Experience Week
Year 12 students will undertake their week-long work experience placements. They will have sourced these placements themselves (with support from the Sixth Form Team) and will complete a variety of tasks. We are very grateful to all of the local and national employers who make this possible, as well as for the support of our students’ parents and carers.
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