Our Careers Programme

Our Careers Programme

Below is a description of the sort of careers activities undertaken by students in each year group. These are supplemented by Careers Events which are also listed below.

Year 7

The focus is about introducing careers and thinking about the vast number of careers / jobs available e.g.:

  • PE - Students take on different roles such as performer, coach/leader, umpire, official etc. to help generate understanding of different careers, but also to foster the different qualities needed to support careers (e.g. confidence, speaking in front of peers, understanding, taking the lead, co-operation).
  • PCSHE - Students are introduced to Unifrog and consider their personality type and sorts of work which might suit them in future.

Year 8

The focus is to explore the world of learning, training and employment available e.g.: 

  • Geography - Students investigate the development levels of various regions, areas and countries and relate this to the dominant sectors of employment. They also study the economic value of different industries and the skills employed within them and explore how different natural landscapes lend themselves to various employment sectors.
  • PCSHE - Students develop a range of skills, particularly team working and listening to others.   Students learn about legal and human rights, with a particular emphasis on the rights of employers and employees.  

Year 9

The core work for the year involves four sessions of the Barclays LifeSkills programme,  which promote financial awareness and employability. These sessions are delivered by Barclays staff and are followed up in PCSHE lessons. Aspirations are supported and encouraged through trips to organisations such as city banks. ‘Soft skills’ such as making presentations are developed through Debate Mate and additional mentoring and one-to-one tutoring is deployed for targeted students. 

Furthermore, the Key Stage 3-4 Options process encompasses access to our independent and impartial Careers Advisor, parents’ consultation evening, individual guidance meetings for students and parents with senior staff, printed and electronic course information and an open event involving local colleges and apprenticeship providers. All of the above assist students to make well-informed and good decisions on what to do next at Key Stage 4.  

Year 10

The focus is one full week of work experience at the end of the summer term which enables students to develop their employability skills. The school has made the decision to retain formal work experience despite it being non-statutory because of our belief in its ability to inspire and galvanise students and help them ascertain the type work of place skills which they need to develop. Curriculum activities which support preparation, implementation and evaluation of work experience include CV writing in English and PCSHE and one-to-one interview practice from local business people who provide individual feedback on students’ interview skills and their CVs. This is complemented by individual and small group career interviews with our careers adviser, prioritised by a needs analysis.

Year 11

Year 11 focusses on post-16 options and the post-16 application process to include individual and small group career interviews by our Careers Adviser, to which parents are also invited. Guidance interviews are also undertaken by members of the SLT and are supplemented by assemblies, parents’/carers’ events and drop-in sessions. A Further Education Event involving local colleges and apprenticeship providers is offered annually in addition to the school’s own post-16 Open Evening. Other local providers (from the Harrow Sixth Form Collegiate) are also invited to our Open Evening and students’ choices are thereby increased beyond the range of A Levels and BTEC Nationals offered by Hatch End High School. Students’ applications are individually quality assessed for appropriateness by the Careers Co-ordinator.

Sixth Form

Sixth Form focusses on supporting students to develop employability skills and choose appropriate post-18 options, including UCAS, apprenticeships and the world of work. Initial guidance interviews occur for all students needing additional input and are identified by the Sixth Form Management Team, other Sixth Form staff and self-referrals are also facilitated. Bespoke sessions are also provided to support students not planning to apply to Higher Education. Students have the opportunity to undertake a week of work experience or work shadowing at the end of Year 12 and all vocational (BTEC) students undertake one full day of work experience every week to support and complement their BTEC course(s). Ex-students make presentations in assemblies and there is regular alumni news printed in the school newsletter and on the school’s website in order to encourage and inform students and parents about the opportunities available for them after school.