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Careers

Careers education and guidance programmes make a major contribution to preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

A planned progressive programme of activities supports them in choosing KS4 and KS5 pathways that suit their interests and abilities, helping them to follow a career path and sustain employability throughout their working lives.

Careers education at Oaklands School is delivered as a structured and progressive programme across all year groups. In Key Stage 3, pupils receive one dedicated careers lesson per fortnight, focusing on early career awareness, employability skills, and raising aspirations. In Key Stage 4, this is increased to two dedicated careers lessons per fortnight, allowing for more in-depth exploration of pathways, qualifications, and preparation for post-16 destinations.

Alongside the taught curriculum, students benefit from a wide range of enrichment opportunities designed to bring careers learning to life. In Key Stage 4, pupils are given the opportunity to visit local colleges, enabling them to experience different learning environments, explore course options, and make informed decisions about their next steps.

Students also take part in a variety of careers trips, employer encounters, and workplace experiences throughout KS3 and KS4. These include visits from local employers, talks from industry professionals, and hands-on workshops, all of which help students to understand the skills and expectations needed in different sectors.

Together, these experiences ensure that pupils develop a strong understanding of the world of work and are well-prepared for their future education, training, or employment pathways.

Oaklands School has adopted the statutory careers guidance issued by the Department for Education (Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers, January 2018 and subsequent updates). We use the Gatsby Benchmarks to inform, review and continuously develop our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme.

We also embed the Skills Builder Framework across our careers curriculum to explicitly teach and develop the essential transferable skills needed for future education, employment, and life. These include listening, speaking, problem solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership, and teamwork.

Oaklands School offers a comprehensive and structured CEIAG provision for all pupils in Years 7–12.

At Oaklands, we work in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority to ensure that all pupils progress into a suitable destination, whether that be college, sixth form, apprenticeship, or employment with training.

Our Lead Teacher for Careers, Mr A Robinson, can be contacted via the main school number for further information.

Careers programme:

Curriculum Intent

At Oaklands School, our intention that pupils leave school with a careers education that has raises aspirations, builds confidence, and equips them with the skills and  experiences needed to achieve their full potential.

Our programme ensures students have opportunities to explore, experience, and understand a wide range of career pathways. All students receive dedicated careers lessons for one hour each week in KS3 and KS4, alongside a wide range of enrichment activities throughout the academic year.

Work experience – Year 11

All Year 11 students complete a five-day work experience placement, designed to provide meaningful insight into the world of work and to support informed post-16 and career decisions. We work with mploy solutions to source safe and appropriate placements that align with students’ interests, strengths, and future aspirations, while also encouraging self-placement opportunities where students are able to secure their own placements with suitable employers.

Programme of study: