Careers Programme

At Joseph Clarke School, we have high aspirations for our pupils and believe many will go on to achieve employment.  Through specialist career guidance, work experience opportunities, and employability skills training, we are committed to doing whatever we can to help our pupils follow their chosen path.

Throughout the curriculum and specifically in PSHE lessons, we seek to introduce pupils to a wide range of careers and encourage them to think about their career ambitions as early as possible.  As well as helping pupils develop key transferrable employability skills such as teamwork, decision-making and communication, and interaction skills, we arrange a number of talks and visits designed to give pupils an excellent understanding of the world of work.

Through one-to-one meetings and personalised plans, we give our pupils tailored career advice and guidance so that they know what skills, experience, and qualifications they need to gain in order to follow their chosen career paths.

For some of our pupils, this preparation for adulthood involves gaining experience of the wider community and enhancing their decision-making skills ready for supported living in the future.

Project SEARCH

As part of Flourish Learning Trust, Joseph Clarke School pupils have the opportunity to participate in Project SEARCH - a supported internship program for young people with sensory impairments, learning disabilities, and/or those on the autistic spectrum.

As part of the project, young people aged 16-24 undertake three work placements at Whipps Cross Hospital in east London working in a range of clinical and non-clinical departments as porters, receptionists, and assistants.

Throughout the year-long program, interns receive intensive, personalised support from exceptional mentors who ensure they feel secure and comfortable every step of the way.  Support might include helping interns travel independently to work, giving them the confidence to speak to new people, or identifying ways to work through a list of tasks.  This support enables our interns to excel in their placements and become highly-valued team members making a meaningful contribution to their department.

With an employment success rate of over 70%, Project SEARCH has a proven track record of helping young people with SEND secure fulfilling and meaningful jobs.  Some graduates of the programme go on to gain full-time, paid employment which they have secured through competitive application processes.

Careers Programme at Joseph Clarke School

The Department for Education SEND Code of Practice 2015 states it is important that young people start to think about their aspirations as early as possible and that from year 9 at the latest, there is help to start planning for a successful transition to adulthood.

Students participate in a programme of Careers Education and Preparing for Adulthood, complementing and supporting the Careers Information, Advice and Guidance provision within school.  The Careers Programme is tailored to each curriculum pathway and then personalised where appropriate.  It is delivered explicitly through PSHE lessons, National Careers Week and is embedded through the wider curriculum, for example, through:

• opportunities across the curriculum to develop transferable life and social skills that support careers, employability and enterprise
• the development of students’ self-advocacy, negotiation, decision-making and transition skills
• purposeful interactions with a range of trusted and familiar adults including school staff and visitors
• recognition of the learner voice and the active involvement of young people in decisions that affect their future, both individually and collectively
• developing the skills for independent travelling

Careers advice and guidance take many forms and is personalised to each individual student, depending on the students’ needs.  This also forms part of the annual Person-Centred Review meetings and personalised outcomes are written accordingly.

Student Entitlement

All students in years 8 to 13 at Joseph Clarke School are entitled to:

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend
• Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our careers programme, which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education, supported internships and apprenticeships, e.g. through activities and events such as options events, assemblies and taster events
• Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses

Further information can be found in Joseph Clarke School’s Careers Policy.

Schools are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships.

Schools must also have a policy statement that outlines the circumstances in which education and training providers will be given access to these students.

This is outlined in section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 and on page 43 of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers.

This policy shows how our school complies with these requirements.

Procedure

A provider wishing to request access should contact the Careers Leader or Principal.

Careers Leader: Emma Merry

Email: emma.merry@josephclarke.waltham.sch.uk

Telephone: 0208 523 4833

Opportunities for Access

A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers:

• Careers Week
• Post 16 introduction sessions
• Curriculum links and events
• Visits throughout the year from providers of apprenticeships and technical qualifications, employers, further education providers and other destinations.

Please speak to the Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

Safeguarding

Our safeguarding policy outlines the school’s procedure for checking the identity and suitability of visitors.

Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.

Premises and Facilities

The school will make the main hall, classrooms or meeting spaces available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team.

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature with Emma Merry, Careers Leader.  This will be made available to pupils and families as appropriate.

Career Leaders

Emma Merry - Joseph Clarke School Careers Leader (emma.merry@josephclarke.waltham.sch.uk)

CLA Designated Teacher

Joseph Clarke School Designated Lead – Chadia Filali-Moutei

(Chadia.filali-moutei@josephclarke.waltham.sch.uk)

Family Support Team

Sarah Bent – Joseph Clarke School (sarah.bent@josephclarke.waltham.sch.uk)

Careers Advisers

Jade Wallace

Project Search – Supported Internship Programme