Academic Excellence
Careers Programme
Kingsmead School is fully committed to careers education and guidance for all its students in preparing them for a successful future when they do eventually leave us to enter the world of work.
The Careers team deliver the Futures drop down day programme from Year 7 through to Year 13. As you can see below, each Year has a different Futures day. The days interconnect and provide valuable impartial advice throughout students' time at Kingsmead. Often there are different pathways for students to choose, reflecting their particular interests and aspirations.
Careers Education and Guidance is also taught within the pastoral curriculum for all Key stages (3,4,5).
We have rich partnerships with many local businesses and organisations to support our programme of Careers Education. We are currently prioritising careers education within class lessons as well as pastoral time and futures days. We feel this provides additional relevance to lessons and context to what they are learning. As described in approach to Learning and Teaching we feel it is important that students understand ‘why’ they are learning what they are learning.
As students move into Year 11, they each receive an individual consultation with a member of the Leadership Team to discuss their Next Steps in January and February. Some students also receive an additional meeting at the end of April. Their current progress is discussed alongside post 16 provision and external organisations support this phase of information, advice and guidance for our students.
The purpose of careers education for each year at Kingsmead
Year 7 – Self-awareness and introduction to world of work skills
Year 8 – Employability skills and linking careers to the curriculum
Year 9 – Careers exploration and aspirations
Year 10 – Employability and transferable skills
Year 11 – Post 16 option choices and decision making
6th form – Developing skills for university, further education and successfully entering the world of work
| Year Group | Event | Details |
| 7 | Futures Day | The National Ryman's Enterprise Challenge - team building, presentation and time management skills. |
| 8 | Futures Day | Built around the upcoming options process, students get a chance to learn more about FE/HE opportunities. They get to trial some lessons in subjects that would support them going forward. |
| 8 | Options Evening | A chance to meet staff of option subjects and ask questions about the courses on offer. |
| 9 | Futures Day | Visits to one of two universities. Students get to experience a university lecture, see what high education entails and what careers it supports. |
| 10 | Futures Day | Skills visit. Students get a chance to visit the skills fayre. Here they learn what apprenticeships are on offer and how to apply for these. |
| 10 | Aim Higher Evening | A choice of University, Further Education or Apprenticeship routes in an evening where students hear about finance, qualification requirements and speak to previous Kingsmead students. |
| 11 | Futures Day | Students are put through their paces through mock interviews and application process. This shows students what life skills they will need when it comes to the world of work and how specific qualifications may help them. This is run alongside a number of large National company partners. There are fact finding speed dating sessions where students find out more about different career pathways. |
| 11 | Maximise | Students are given useful learning tools that will support their long term studies. |
| All | Futures Fayre | Approximately 100 Universities, Colleges, Business and FE providers after school. Open to students, parents and Hednesford. |
| 12 | Futures Week | A wide ranging programme of events introducing the UCAS process as well as University visits and talks from NCS, impartial careers advisors and a full mock application process. |
Career Resources Available
A range of publications and information can be found in the Library and the Careers Office, alongside a variety of online resources, which are easily accessible within school and from the school intranet page.
Personalised Intranet Pages
Student intranet pages are personalised and bespoke. They are build around the choices they made using the Careers Questionnaire. This ensures they receive information relevant to them. This includes what qualifications they need to achieve by the end of Year 11 and Year 13. Students can also see a record of their achievement points and successes in school.