Students at Ridgeway follow a planned careers programme from year 7 to year 11. All staff have a role in the careers programme to ensure that each learner receives quality careers information when they need it.
We recognise that parents are one of the most powerful influences on a young person’s decision-making when it comes to post-16 pathways. Equally, we recognise that things change and evolve, often with bewildering speed, and it isn’t always easy for a non-specialist to keep up to date with all the latest information about the many and varied pathways into the world of work.
That is why it is important that school provides as much advice, guidance and support as possible. All schools follow statutory guidance around careers education.
The eight Gatsby benchmarks are at the heart of good careers education. You can read more about the Gatsby benchmarks by clicking the link at the foot of the page.
As a parent, you can expect to:
Encounters with employees for all year groups
Employer and employee talks are designed to inspire and inform a class of 20+ students during a session that they have selected based on their own interests. The aim is to open students’ eyes to different professions, different post-16 pathways, the day-to-day activities that form part of a job role, the role’s various challenges and possible career progression. Students are encouraged to ask questions throughout the session.
Futures Fair
Attended by up to 40 exhibitors each year, Futures Fair aims to give the students the opportunity to engage with as many providers of further and higher education as possible to help widen their understanding and make informed decisions about their future. Students are tasked with gathering information from as many visitors as possible, which also helps to develop and improve their communication skills. Parents are encouraged to attend.
Visits to further education colleges and universities
We have established excellent working relationships with both further and higher education institutions across the Liverpool City Region which has been enhanced by our partnership working with Shaping Futures. This means that we can provide visits for our students so that they can see what facilities are available and gain a greater understanding of life on a college or university campus. They get to hear from lecturers, support staff and former Ridgeway students.
Embedding careers in the curriculum
There are many subject-related activities that take place throughout the year where students are helped to make connections between the subject they are studying, post-16 pathways and future career opportunities.
Work experience
In year 10 students can spend several days in a workplace. They get ready for this in work experience preparation sessions early in year 10, focusing on the purpose of work experience and learning how to go about finding a suitable placement. During work experience itself, students are expected to complete a log of activities and a reflection which will be reviewed when they return to school in year 11.
Students develop their understanding of the world of work and how this matches up to their expectations. It also helps develop their self-awareness in terms of their own talents and skills and how they can take those forward to become part of their career goals.
Visiting speakers
We welcome lots of visiting speakers to school from colleges, sixth forms, universities, training providers and other organisations to talk to students in assembly and form time about the range of options available to them after year 11.
It is important that students are as knowledgeable as possible so that they can make informed decisions about what is most suitable for them. In particular, the landscape around technical qualifications is undergoing significant changes with the introduction of T levels.
Examples of visiting speakers include Wirral Met, Birkenhead Sixth Form College, ASK Apprenticeships, Barclays Life Skills, the Steven Gerrard Academy and LIPA.
Personal guidance and careers research
Students are encouraged to carry out their own careers research, especially in year 11. They receive guidance on this during their one-to-one meeting with Mrs Rafferty as well as during focused sessions.
Students have access to a careers platform called Unifrog. The platform enables them to record their own actions, interactions and general progress with careers education.
As a parent you can also access the site to help promote discussion at home around careers.
It is important that students develop skills that enable them to make informed decisions and choices for themselves. For example, students need to know how to research labour market information for the local area. Click the link below for more about labour market information.
