Careers Education at Winchelsea School

At Winchelsea, we are committed to providing a high-quality, inclusive Careers Education programme for all our students from Year 8 upwards. As a specialist SEND setting, our careers curriculum is designed to be practical, meaningful, and adaptable, supporting the diverse needs, abilities, and aspirations of our learners. Please click here to view our Careers Strategy.

Our Approach

We follow the school’s half-termly themes to make careers education relevant and engaging, linking job roles and pathways to topics that students are already exploring across the curriculum. This thematic approach helps learners make real-world connections and deepens their understanding of the world of work.

What Our Careers Programme Covers

Our careers curriculum focuses on five key areas:

Transition Planning

Supporting students in preparing for life after school, whether that means college, supported internships, or other next steps.

Assessment

Progress in careers education is assessed through ongoing teacher observations and formative assessment, which are embedded in classroom practice and practical activities. This ensures that each student’s development is carefully tracked and supported.

We also offer LASER Learning Awards to recognise achievement in areas such as personal development, employability, and vocational skills. These externally accredited qualifications provide students with meaningful recognition of their progress and support future transitions.

Accessing Careers Information

Information about our careers programme is available to students, parents and carers, staff, and employers by contacting the school. We are always happy to share how careers learning is embedded across our curriculum and welcome opportunities to work with local businesses, training providers, and families to support our students’ futures.

Careers Guidance

Students from Year 7 through to Year 14 are offered the opportunity to have a one-to-one careers guidance meeting with an external provider. These meetings support students in making informed decisions about their future. This provision is complemented by an annual Careers Fair, open to both pupils and parents. The event showcases a range of further education providers and external agencies, offering valuable insights into pathways beyond school, including transition support and routes into employment.

Work Experience Opportunities

In Years 7 to 9, we focus on building early engagement with the working world through partnerships with local businesses. This includes activities such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) talks, which provide pupils with exposure to a wide range of career possibilities.

From Year 10 onwards, pupils are given the opportunity to undertake work experience placements within the local community. These placements allow us to foster relationships with employers and, where appropriate, offer extended work experience opportunities tailored to the individual.

· In Year 10 (where appropriate), pupils participate in a two-day work experience placement aligned as closely as possible with their interests and aspirations.

· In Year 11 (where appropriate), this increases to a five-day placement in a relevant field.

· In Post-16 (Years 12–13), students undertake a two-week block placement in a setting that reflects their career interests.

· At the end of Year 13, students are offered the opportunity to take part in a ‘Winchelsea Working Year’, which takes place during Year 14. This year is designed to support a smooth transition into full-time employment.

We work in close collaboration with SEND4, a supported employment and job coaching agency, to ensure our pupils access appropriate, meaningful, and well-supported work placements. Further details about SEND4 can be found at: https://send4.co.uk/