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Welcome
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Careers Tutorials
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Careers Guidance
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Connexions
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Mentoring
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Linking to FE
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WRL Toolkit
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Welcome to Work Related Learning
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As a Business and Enterprise College we pride ourselves in having developed strong links
with local businesses and employers. This relationship is multi dimensional in providing
work related opportunities for all ages throughout College. Examples include:
- 'Take Your Child to Work' – Year 9
- 5 Days work experience placement – Year 10 and 12
- Mock interview days – Year 11 and 12
- Diploma work experience (10 days), Young Apprenticeships (50 days), extended work
placements…
All of these activities ensure our learners gain vital work preparation skills such as
letter writing, completion of application forms, CV development and interview experience.
In addition to this, life skills are developed in the work place and career pathways
explored for future progression. Our learners benefit from invaluable employer feedback,
an opportunity to gain an employer reference and in some instances 'real' jobs are
offered.
Work related learning also covers:
- Career tutorials
- Information, advice and guidance
- Compliance to the Quality Standard for Work Experience, Department for Children,
Schools and Families
- Working within Work Experience Guidelines set out by Swindon Borough Council,
Learning Skills Council and Swindon 14 – 19 Partnership
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Careers Tutorials
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Year 7
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Preparation for the workplace begins as soon as our students arrive in Year 7.
With our accelerated Key Stage 3 syllabus, students now select their options in Year 8,
so it is vital that they quickly begin to consider their future and the type of work
roles that will best suit them. In order to do so, they first need to know what type of
person they are and what their particular gifts and talents are.
This does not mean that we are asking students to plan their life at this early stage.
We are simply encouraging them to know themselves and what their potentials might be.
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Year 8
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Year 8 sees the introduction of a software programme called Kudos, an interactive
programme that allows students to explore the type of tasks that they would enjoy and
begin considering some of the jobs that this might lead them towards.
Students are also encouraged to explore how they have changed and developed since Year 7.
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Year 9
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Year 9 will explore the skills and qualities that employers look for in their staff, and
begin considering specific job roles that interest them. They will also think about
their motivation to work and what they will get out of it.
Year 9s also undertake the Pathfinder Career Programme and participate with 'Take
your Child to Work' activity which involves work shadowing a parent in the work place.
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Year 10
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The objective for our Year 10s is to source a work experience placement and prepare for
this activity. Using the WEX on-line package learners can develop letters of
application and curriculum vitae with tutor support. These are then submitted to
employers for the interview selection process and placement confirmation achieved.
The emphasis for this year group is their preparation for entering the workplace and
reflecting on how 'work' is different to 'College'.
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Year 11
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This is a pressured year when exams become the main focus of our students. However,
preparation for the workplace is more vital than ever as the culmination of these GCSEs
paves the way for further study and securing a good job.
All Year 11 students will be offered interview experience as part of the College’s
Enterprise programme.
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Years 12 and 13
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Careers guidance for Years 12 and 13 is planned and delivered by the specialised Sixth
Form team of staff.
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Careers Guidance
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Our students begin exploring the world of work through the Curriculum and Tutorial
Programme as soon as they enter Year 7, and this continues until they leave the College
as we believe it is vital for our students to be as prepared as possible to enter today's
ever changing job market.
In addition to this, students participate in a range of College Enterprise events where
they can practice their newfound skills.
Whilst our students can also discuss their options with Tutors in the form of Academic
Mentoring, we also make time for them to meet on an individual basis with our Work
Related Learning Co-ordinator, Mrs Connie Jeapes, who is also a qualified teacher and is
currently studying towards a level 4 Information, Advice and Guidance qualification.
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Years 8 and 9
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Whilst we offer a lot of support for Year 8/9 Options with out Options Evenings and
within the Curriculum and Tutorial system, Students can also request an appointment with
our Work Related Learning Co-ordinator if they wish.
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Year 10
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All students have an individual interview during the early part of Year 10, where they
can begin to explore their future plans and aspirations, as well as discussing plans work
Year 10 Work Experience.
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Year 11
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When they move on to Year 11, our students will also begin to look at the options for
moving on to Further Education, whether that is to our dynamic Sixth Form, to other
Colleges, or into a training scheme within the workplace.
Parents and Carers should be aware that it is not College policy to promote individual
providers of Further and Higher Education. It is therefore the responsibility of Parents
and Careers, and students themselves, to find out about relevant Open Days and Evenings
for these organisations - details of which are advertised in the local press between
September and January (as is our own Sixth Form Open Evening). You will need to make
arrangements to attend the ones that your children are interested in.
Students can also request another interview with our Work Related Learning Co-ordinator,
where they can discuss issues such as their subject choices, the qualifications and
grades they need to achieve for certain careers and any other careers concerns.
They can also meet with a Connexions Adviser, who comes in to College on a weekly basis,
where they can have individual appointments or take advantage of the lunch time drop-in
Sessions.
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Sixth Form
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Sixth Form careers education within the curriculum is planned and delivered by our
specialist Sixth Form Tutors, but students can also make appointments directly with Mrs
O'Connor to discuss their University choices and potential career options.
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Parents & Carers
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Parents and Carers should feel free to contact Mrs Connie Jeapes if they have any
questions regarding potential careers options for their children.
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Mentoring
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St Joseph's run Mentoring programmes for Year 10 and 11 students, and will offer this
opportunity to students they feel will benefit from working with a voluntary Mentor from
local industry.
All of our volunteer Mentors are CRB checked and receive training prior to embarking on a
programme with us.
We introduced the Mentoring programme during the last academic year because research
shows that mentoring helps to raise the academic achievement levels of students, and
increases their chances of going on to further and higher education, or getting an
appropriate job.
It also encourages students to focus on their exams and to raise their game.
Mentoring has also been shown to enhance self-esteem, improve both home and school
behaviour and to develop decision making and social skills.
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Linking to Further Education
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Sixth Form at St Joseph's
St Joseph's host a strong Sixth Form College, with a wide range of A Level courses on
offer, together with a variety of Level II programmes, and many of our Year 11 students
choose to continue their education with us here, before making the move to University.
However, for students not yet committed to a further education programme, we also liaise
with Swindon and New College to jointly facilitate the transition from Year 11 into
further education.
Widening Participation
Widening Participation is a short Swindon College programme designed to motivate
those students who might not want to stay in further education. Many students who
participate in this programme will go on to our Sixth Form or to a local College as we
know this will improve their chances of future employment and promotion.
Transition to College
Transition to College is a programme run jointly with Swindon and New College and
focuses on students who would like to go on to further education but either lack the
confidence to take the first steps or who might need additional support to make the
transition.
Nominated students will be linked with mentors whilst still in Year 11, and will
be encouraged to look at whether they would be best suited to our Sixth Form or one
of the local Colleges.
Students wishing to remain at St Joseph's will be linked to our strong pastoral support
system in the Sixth Form to help make the transition.
Students wishing to attend other Colleges will be invited to visit the campus of their
choice and will be helped with the enrolment process, and supported for the first few
months until they begin to find their feet.
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"The immaculate way in which students wear their uniform and talk with real pride about their experiences at St Joseph's testifies to
their identification with the new college and their desire to succeed"
- Ofsted
"Students' achievement during their time at St Joseph's is outstanding"
- Ofsted
"Parents are particularly happy with the support offered to their children"
- Ofsted
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