At Backwell we aim to get you thinking about your 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 you move up through the school you 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 help you to make decisions about your GCSE courses as well as your options after Year 11 and then after Year 13.
You will have access to the school’s careers platform Unifrog as well as information on the careers pages on 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 you may not have studied before. During Year 9 we will support you to make sure that you choose the most appropriate options to study in Years 10 and 11. Our aims for you are to:
Post-16: We support you in Year 11 to consider your 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 you in Years 12 and 13 to consider your options after school and make informed decisions. This may be going to university, apprenticeships, a gap year or into employment.
Work experience is a really important way of gaining skills for the workplace and applying for jobs, 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 the process and here is the Powerpoint where you can find out how to log your work experience.
Year 12: Students taking the Backwell Employability Award have a work placement of minimum 20 hours as part of this.
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. You will be supported in applying for these placements
Each year we hold a Mock Interview Day for all Year 10 students where you will prepare a covering letter and CV, then experience an interview from an employer and receive feedback.
If you need them, we also offer mock interviews to students in Years 11-13, and in particular if you are applying to a competitive and highly selective job or course.
Open to all students and running through every term our weekly careers talks provide advice and information in a wide variety of job sectors including Psychology, Finance, Sport, Performing Arts, Health Professions, Teaching, Criminology, Creative Industries, Journalism, Law and Engineering, amongst many others. These are led by employers, training providers and other professionals many of whom are our own Backwell School parents.
Our annual Careers Fair is a great place for you to find out about future options and career paths that are available to you. With over 40 exhibitors including local and national employers, universities, colleges and voluntary organisations. Early entry for vulnerable learners.
With around 400 students, Backwell Sixth Form is a consistently popular choice, both for students who have moved up from Year 11 at Backwell, and those who are looking to join us from another school. We have a wide range of course options as well as many extra-curricular activities to make Backwell Sixth Form a high achieving and social place to study.