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.

 

 

 

 

 

Careers Leader Contact Details

Careers Leader: Amy Scott
Email: a.scott@wightwickhall.staffs.sch.uk
Telephone: 01902 558 188 (school office)
Partnership: Wightwick Hall School works in collaboration with the Staffordshire Careers Hub to strengthen CEIAG provision.

Our Careers Vision and Commitment

At Wightwick Hall School, our careers provision is designed to inspire curiosity, broaden horizons and empower every learner to understand the world of work and the opportunities available to them. We believe strongly in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and helping students challenge limiting stereotypes. Through high quality guidance and rich experiences, our learners develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to make well informed, realistic and aspirational decisions about their futures.

We recognise that the world of work is constantly evolving, and that students’ hopes, ambitions and aspirations will grow and change over time. Our careers programme provides the foundation for learners to manage key transitions, both beyond school and throughout their adult lives.

Wightwick Hall School meets its statutory duty to secure independent and impartial careers guidance for all pupils, in line with the Education Act 2011 and Careers Guidance and Access to Education and Training Providers (2018). Guidance is tailored, accessible and differentiated to meet the diverse needs of our learners with SEND.

Summary of Our Careers Programme

Our careers programme is structured around the Gatsby Benchmarks and the Preparation for Adulthood pathways. It is personalised to ensure that every learner can explore opportunities, reflect on their strengths and make meaningful, informed choices.

For Pupils

• Independent careers guidance appropriate to their level
• Meaningful encounters with employers, FE providers and training organisations
• Internal and external work experience, tailored to need and aspiration
• Careers learning embedded across subjects, linking lessons to real world pathways
• Enterprise activities, community engagement and vocational experiences
• Development of communication, teamwork, problem solving and independence

For Parents and Carers

Parents can access information about our careers programme through:
• Our website Careers page
• Annual reviews (EHCP) and transition meetings
• Parents’ evenings and careers events
• Communication with the Careers Leader
• Regular updates on available courses, providers and transitions

For Teachers

Teachers contribute by:
• Embedding career related learning into the curriculum
• Recording meaningful encounters in Compass+
• Linking learning to personal development and Preparation for Adulthood outcomes
• Supporting pupils to reflect on their strengths and aspirations

For Employers and Providers

Employers and post 16/18 providers can engage with our programme through:
• Careers fairs, assemblies and workshops
• Work experience placements
• Mock interviews and skill seminars
• Collaboration with the Staffordshire Careers Hub
• Provider Access opportunities (see policy statement below)

How We Measure and Assess the Impact of Our Programme

We evaluate our careers provision through:

• Compass+ audits of the Gatsby Benchmarks
• Student voice, staff feedback and parental input
• Tracking experiences and progress via Compass+ and internal systems
• Reviewing EHCP outcomes related to communication, independence and Preparation for Adulthood
• Monitoring post 16 and post 18 destinations to ensure successful transition
• Annual review of the Careers Programme with SLT and governors

Impact measures focus on confidence, readiness for adulthood, employability skills, awareness of pathways and the ability to make informed decisions.

Next Review Date

This careers information will next be reviewed in: Spring 2026

Provider Access Policy Statement

Wightwick Hall School is committed to providing all pupils with access to high quality information about future study options and career pathways. In accordance with the Baker Clause, we welcome requests from colleges, training providers and employers who wish to speak to our students.

Opportunities for access include:

• Assemblies and workshops
• Drop down days
• Careers fairs
• Curriculum lessons
• Small group sessions
• Virtual or in person presentations

Providers wishing to request access should contact:
Careers Leader: Amy Scott
Email: a.scott@wightwickhall.staffs.sch.uk
Telephone: 01902 558 188