CAREERS AND WORK RELATED LEARNING
their potential and make an effective transition from school to employment, Burntwood is proud to deliver a high standard of Careers and Work Related Learning. We use the Gatsby Foundation benchmarks to assess and develop our careers provision as recommended by the most recent government statutory guidance. The benchmarks mean that we provide...
- a stable careers programme 
- provide labour market information to our students
- address the needs of each student
- link curriculum learning to careers
- provide multiple encounters with employers and employees
- provide experience of the workplace
- ensure encounters with further and higher education and
- offer personal guidance from a fully trained industry professional.
We aim to support our students decision-making as they approach transitions and have to make choices; inform, encourage and inspire them as they consider their future options; and help them understand and develop their employability skills as they prepare for the world of work.
Careers Guidance
We acknowledge the importance of impartial careers advice for all year groups, and career guidance is available to all students from our careers industry qualified adviser. In particular, one-on-one interviews are set up for each Year 11 student and actively encouraged for all Year 12 students.
Careers, Education and Work Related Learning
(Note to Employers and WRL organisations: If you are able to offer WRL opportunities to Burntwood students, please email eking@burntwoodschool.com or sclarke@burntwoodschool.com)
Careers education is incorporated into the school timetable, with each year group benefiting from dedicated careers related lessons. These are further supported by activities related to individual subject departments.
Careers education begins in Year 7 when students prepare to welcome and question an external visitor regarding their career and the choices they have made. This year's visitors included a lawyer, speech therapist, film producer, event manager, civil servant, community relations executive from a football foundation and the Metropolitan Police.
In Year 8, all students do reception duty for a day to have the opportunity to develop their work-related skills supporting staff and interacting with visitors to the school.
All Year 9 students are introduced to the Unifrog online careers programme where they explore their skills, and identify potential careers and the pathways to achieve them. An annual Careers Event provides Year 9 students with the chance to make contact with and explore a wide range of careers and occupations showcased by around 40 employers.
Year 10 students participate in a nationwide enterprise programme to learn technical and business disciplines as well as developing core enterprise and transferable skills. Burntwood also continues to offer a two-week work experience towards the end of the Summer Term. The opportunity introduces students to the world of work, gives them contact with real employers and help them develop their transferable skills. This experience is supported by full day preparation sessions when students consider employability skills, CV writing, interview skills, job applications and health and safety matters. After the work experience, students work through evaluating activities to reflect and record their learning experience.
Year 11 students take part in writing a progress file to help them chose sixth form courses, training or apprenticeships and meet one-on-one with the careers adviser to discuss their 16+ options.
The school encourages visits from organisations to introduce students to a wide range of career choices and industries including Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), identified by the government as a priority.
Throughout the Sixth form years, a very extensive programme of careers and work-related activities is organised. Over 50 speakers and external facilitators visit the school and students are escorted on trips to employers. Specific student interests and pathways are identified early in the academic year and tailored opportunities and support is provided for pathways including Oxbridge, Medicine, Art and Design, Law, Nursing, IT and Business. External speakers including alumni, inform on the range of career pathways including school leaver and graduate apprenticeships. Year 12 students are encouraged and supported to set up work experience both within the enrichment period of the school week or following on from internal examinations.
Tutors provide support around the UCAS application and following on from internal examinations, Year 12 students attend workshops to register them on the UCAS process and support them as they draft their personal statement. Year 12 students attend university open days.
More information is provided on the Sixth Form Careers, WRL And UCAS page of the website.
Careers Information
Further and higher education resources are available in the sixth form study room and additional careers resources are available for all students in the library and the careers office.
In addition, careers opportunities relating to work experience, apprenticeships, courses and regularly updated labour market intelligence and opportunities are published on the school website and in a half term newsletter.
Careers and WRL Learning Policy
For information on any of the information above, please contact Careers Link, Nick Bull on nbull@burntwoodschool.com, Lizzie King Sixth Form and Year 11 Careers and Stephen Clarke Year 7,8,9 and 10 Careers.