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). They are taught about: the importance of networking; the impact of diversity and inclusion; labour market disruptors and how it is affecting our local labour market; how to start thinking about whether university is an appropriate choice.
Year 12 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 well as developing key employability and character strengths such as teamwork, communication and creativity.
Digital Kent Assembly – Digital Champion Volunteer Scheme
In Term 1, Digital Kent visited our sixth form students to talk to them about volunteering. They explained their mission, which is to help to ‘bridge the digital divide’ and help anyone who is suffering a disadvantage because of lack of access or lack of confidence with the digital world.
They spent time explaining the benefits that volunteering can have on the volunteer as well as the person who is receiving the help, as well as outlining how it can support applications in the future. They explained their Digital Champions scheme and how anyone over 18 can help to support someone in their local community as well as receiving training for free.
.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.
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.
The University College of Football and Business (UCFB) came to speak to our sports students in Year 9, 10 and the sixth form today in a range of sessions designed to showcase the huge variety of careers and roles within the sports sector. The sessions were designed to suit the different age groups and discuss the impact of their decisions on their overall career journey. They explored further education and university options within sport, and our students were open-minded and respectful with lots of questions.
This event supports Wrotham School in fulfilling its statutory obligations under Provider Access Legislation (2023).
.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.
The BBC visited our Year 9, Year 10 Media, Year 11 and Sixth Form students during National Apprenticeship Week 2023. As part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations, they created a tour focused on careers education with specialist careers panels. Our students heard from successful people from our local area, working in the creative industries. We’d like to say our thanks to:
Alex Mansuroglu – Radio Presenter and DJ for Kiss FM, who grew up locally in Meopham.
Yasmin Kavanci – Freelance Transmission Operator and Illustrator who lives in Gillingham
Leo Ulph – Radio Presenter of Upload on BBC Radio Kent, promoting literacy and creativity across the county
Josephine Clark – Commercial Director at Maidstone Studios with 20 years’ experience in the production of live sports, documentaries, children’s TV, music and much more.
The whole BBC tour crew and administration team for sharing this opportunity with our students.
The BBC’s careers support for students doesn’t end with the school tour; students were directed to the BBC Bitesize Careers site, where they will find an ever-growing library of job profiles to explore across all industries, alongside careers advice and information about next steps in education and the world of work.
This event supports Wrotham School in fulfilling its statutory obligations under Provider Access Legislation (2023).
National Apprenticeship Week 2023 with 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 2022, they had 100 options to choose from at a range of times throughout the week and 95% of students took part in live online events. If your company is offering a live virtual experience during NAW2023, please contact our careers lead.
We will be welcoming The Education People who will be talking to our students about the advantages of looking for local apprenticeships. ASK apprenticeships will also be delivering an awareness assembly, discussing the different apprenticeship levels and options.
.CAREERS SESSIONS: Labour Market Focus: Focusing on Kent and the South East
In their weekly careers sessions and assemblies, Year 12 will explore the key local employment sectors for Kent and the South East. This will include a focus on the sectors that employ the highest number of people in our local area and allow our students to explore what roles are available. The sectors included are: construction, healthcare and social services, logistics and distribution, creative and digital, business and financial services.
Year 12 will be developing the vital employability and character strength of communication through introductory British Sign Language sessions in their enrichment programme. They will have the opportunity to complete an online qualification that they may choose to add to their CV.
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.
Introduction to National Citizen Service (NCS) POSTPONED
The National Citizen Service has completely re-written their programme for Year 11 and 12 students – as such, they will be launching their offer later in the year and this will be updated when we have more information.
Friday 10th March 2023: This fair is a fantastic opportunity for our sixth form students to speak in person to local apprenticeship providers and employers, hand out their CVs and find out about opportunities for a wide range of careers sectors. The event is hosted by local Kent MPs and is supported by lots of local employers and apprenticeship providers.
This is an optional event that we advertise to our students and their families and we support their attendance as we do any open day. If you would like to attend, please read the emails that we will send with details and contact Mrs Cheval on pcheval@wrotham.kent.sch.uk
.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.
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.
Year 12 students are invited to attend the University and Apprenticeship Fair at the University of Kent. With a wide range of exhibitors and a selection of workshops and talks available, this is an important part of their preparation for post-18 destinations.
Talks available include:
How do I know whether an apprenticeship is for me?
How do I choose a university course and what is student life like?
What is Russell Group and how is the application process different?
.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 2022, this included a LinkedIn workshop, input from the DWP about writing CVs and preparing for job interviews, 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.
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.
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.
