Careers
Careers Programme
‘Today’s 15-year-olds are the Robinson Crusoe’s of a future that remains largely unknown to us. They will need to cope with the changing environment, work in jobs that do not exist today using tools to which they had no introduction in school. Adapting, learning, daring to try out new things, and always being ready to learn from mistakes are among the keys to resilience and success in an unpredictable world.’ Dr Francesco Avvisati
Whilst we treasure our time pupils spend with us in their Wychwood School years, our Careers curriculum is focused on preparing them for life after Wychwood and fully supporting them to ascertain and reach their aspirations.
Our strong network of alumni provides valuable support and guidance for current pupils across a wide range of industries and professions. This means that Wychwood leavers have an established pathway and an important Wychwood network before they step out into the ‘real’ world, however that looks for them individually.
Throughout their time at Wychwood, pupils have access to careers education, information, advice, and guidance that enables them to:
- Enhance their self-awareness and confidence and provide opportunities for self-development.
- Research and understand their education, training, employment and progression.
- Develop the skills they need to plan and manage their own personal development and career progression.
- Undertake work related activities with external partners who inspire and inform.
- Make plans and access opportunities to help them improve their prospects of success.
Provision
Pupils are provided with a planned, progressive programme which meets national requirements through:
Careers information that is easy to find and accessible both at home and at school using the online resources; comprehensive, unbiased, up-to-date and well organised, giving details of all progression opportunities in the UK and abroad.
Careers education activities that assist their career management from within school, and helps pupils to evaluate their career learning from activities outside school. This education includes careers lessons, subject lessons, PSHE, assemblies, Wychwood Association events, work related and enterprise activities, education links and visits as well as enrichment activities.
Careers guidance is provided by all staff as they assist pupils in their academic and social development and prepare them for life after Wychwood. Impartial, independent careers advice is available to all pupils through Adviza, a registered charity who aims to guide and motivate young people to achieve their full potential.
Please contact Mrs Arlene MacLaughlin if you have any questions regarding the Careers Programme at Wychwood School:
a.maclaughlin@wychwoodschool.org
Bespoke Careers Programme
Young people can find making decisions about their future overwhelming and complex. At Wychwood, we understand that being well informed is fundamental to bringing clarity to our pupils’ futures. For this reason, we commence our Career programme early in Remove (Year 7), continue our support during their school years to Study II (Year 13) and then retain our interest on their chosen career path beyond as we are delighted so many former pupils come back to Wychwood to share their successes with current pupils.
During Remove (Year 7), we focus on supporting pupils to develop their own identity, interests and skills. We work on setting their goals and aspirations during tutor time and opening prospects to a wide range of career pathways.
Inters (Year 8) and Lower Transits (Year 9) pupils engage in weekly Careers lessons to ensure they are aware of the multitude of opportunities open to them. We start to develop potential pathways for each pupil individually and support them in GCSE subject choices with an eye on their future wishes.
During Upper Transits (Year 10) and Shell (Year 11) pupils learn valuable professional and transferable skills through a wide range of activities. From our enterprise business projects with Radley College to public speaking and presentations, they experience opportunities to develop their skills and extra credit for their personal development to start building their Curriculum Vitae. Work experience is fully supported and volunteer work actively encouraged during Michaelmas term.
In Study (Years 12 and 13), they are focused primarily on their next steps and pupils are supported individually, based on their informed choices. An extensive range of guidance is offered, including: formal interview practice for university placements, apprenticeship interviews, open day information, connections in their chosen field and support on results.
Wychwood Enterprise (Study Enrichment) develops real world enterprise skills.
Upper Transits (Year 10) undertake a business education day which develops their awareness of working life and employability through enterprising activities. This takes place with boys from Radley College so that they experience meeting new people as if in a new work place.