What do we do?

At Wightwick Hall School, we provide a Careers curriculum that prepares students for adulthood through a personalised, practical, and meaningful programme. Our curriculum supports every learner to develop independence, employability, and essential life skills so they can make informed choices about their future.

We offer a careers provision that is integrated into the wider curriculum and meets all Gatsby Benchmarks. Students explore different job roles, pathways, and opportunities through real world experiences, visits, encounters with employers and tailored careers guidance. We ensure that each student is supported to build confidence, resilience, and self advocacy, leading to a clear transition plan that enables success beyond school.

Our approach celebrates the strengths of every learner and ensures that careers learning is accessible, aspirational, and rooted in preparation for adulthood outcomes.

How do we do it?

We deliver a broad and adaptive Careers curriculum that spans Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5, ensuring all students experience meaningful encounters, personalised guidance, and progressive skill development.

A curriculum aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks

Benchmark 1 – A stable careers programme
Our programme is structured, consistently delivered, and monitored through Compass+ and individual EHCP targets. Careers features in every key stage and is embedded across subjects.

Benchmark 2 – Learning from career and labour market information
Students engage with local labour market data, employer presentations, and careers research tasks. Staff use up to date information to guide and personalise next steps.

Benchmark 3 – Addressing the needs of each pupil
Learning is tailored using EHCP outcomes, transition plans, and personalised targets. Every student has an individual pathway which is reviewed annually with families and external professionals.

Benchmark 4 – Linking curriculum learning to careers
Subjects across the school explicitly link learning to real life employment contexts. Careers activities are integrated into maths, English, ICT, catering, enterprise, construction and outdoor learning.

Benchmark 5 – Encounters with employers and employees
Students take part in workshops, talks, enterprise events and drop down days involving local businesses and visiting professionals.

Benchmark 6 – Experiences of workplaces
Learners access internal work experience (for example, school coffee shop, breakfast club, office support) and external placements in the community when appropriate.

Benchmark 7 – Encounters with further and higher education
Pupils meet local colleges, training providers and apprenticeship teams through visits, open days, talks and transition preparation programmes.

Benchmark 8 – Personal guidance
All students receive independent careers guidance and personalised action plans which inform transition planning for post 16 and post 18 pathways.

Practical learning and community engagement

Students participate in real world activities such as enterprise events, community projects, travel training, volunteering, and functional life skills sessions. These experiences help embed communication, teamwork, time management, and problem solving.

Lessons and activities focus on workplace behaviours, social communication, personal organisation, and the development of independence. Staff use EHCP outcomes to plan learning that strengthens communication, cognition, emotional wellbeing, and self management.

Assessment and progression

Progress is tracked through:

• Preparation for Adulthood frameworks

• EHCP annual reviews

• Compass+ careers tracking

• Student portfolios of evidence

• Individual transition plans

Students develop self understanding through reflection activities and supported careers conversations, enabling them to make informed choices about work, education, and independent living.

Why do we do it?

We teach Careers to ensure every student can take meaningful next steps into adulthood with confidence, clarity, and the skills they need to thrive. Our approach helps students understand themselves, their strengths, and the opportunities available to them.

Through our Careers curriculum, students learn to:

• build independence and life skills

• navigate real world situations with confidence

• understand the workplace and community around them

• set aspirations and work towards achievable goals

• advocate for themselves in future settings

Our curriculum ensures that students leave Wightwick Hall School ready for their next stage whether that is further education, supported employment, traineeships, apprenticeships, community involvement or independent adult life.

By embedding the Gatsby Benchmarks and aligning learning with EHCP outcomes, we create a Careers programme that is stable, structured, aspirational and personalised, ensuring every learner is prepared for adulthood, employment, and participation in their community.