At Backwell we aim to get students thinking about their future plans and developing skills for the workplace straight from Year 7. This may be through PSHE, Breakout activities, trips, enterprise initiatives or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) projects.
As they move up through the school they will have the opportunity to learn about job applications as well as a Work Experience week on placement with a local employer or training provider.
We will also work with you to help them make decisions about their GCSE courses as well as their options after Year 11 and then after Year 13.
Students will have access to the school’s careers platform Unifrog as well as information on the careers pages on the virtual learning environment, FROG. In addition, each week we publish a Careers Bulletin with information on events and opportunities outside of school.
Click on the button to see what is in the Careers Programme by Year Group.
Key Stage 4 (GCSE): At Backwell there is a wide range of options to choose from, from familiar subjects to courses that the student may not have studied before. During Year 9 we will support every student to make sure that they choose the most appropriate options to study in Years 10 and 11. Our aims for students are to:
Post-16: We support students in Year 11 to consider their options and make informed decisions, whether this be staying on for Backwell School Sixth Form or following courses at college or other Post-16 provider.
Post-18: Similarly, we support students in Years 12 and 13 to consider their options after school and make informed decisions. This may be going to university, apprenticeships, a gap year or into employment.
We believe that work experience is a really important way for students to gain skills for the workplace as well as knowledge of what it is like to work in certain occupations.
Year 10: During Enrichment Week in Term 6, all students in Year 10 will undertake a week’s work experience in a placement they have organised themselves. See the letter home here explaining this process and here is the Powerpoint explaining how students log their work experience with the school.
Year 12: Students taking the Backwell Employability Award will undertake a work placement of a minimum of 20 hours.
Years 11-13: In addition to this, we actively encourage students in Years 11-13 to take part in work experience and advertise placements in the weekly careers bulletin. The students are supported in applying for these placements via application advice and mock interviews.
Students have the opportunity to take part in a number of career related activities throughout their school journey. These include:
Mock Interviews – During Year 10 students attend a Mock Interview day where they apply for a virtual job, create an application and then take part in a formal interview with an employer. We also offer mock interviews to students in Years 11-13 who may face interviews for courses/jobs, including those of a highly competitive and selective nature. Students in Year 12 taking the Backwell Employability Award will have a mock interview as part of the Award.
Careers Talks – Held for all students every week throughout the year. These involve Backwell School alumni, employers and professionals from different job sectors offering information and advice what it is like to work in their industry, as well as entry requirements and useful contacts.
Careers Guidance – Every student in Year 11 will have a careers guidance interview with a fully qualified and impartial careers adviser. Here they can discuss their post-16 choices as well as their future plans. All other students are also welcome to book a careers appointment by requesting one from their tutor. Once a week the careers adviser runs a lunchtime drop-in session in the LB2.
Careers Education: A comprehensive programme of Careers Education runs throughout Years 7-13, delivered both within the PSHE programme during tutor-time, and within the academic curriculum. During the latter we aim to highlight the relevance of each subject to the working world.
Click the links for guides on supporting your child along their career journey.