The Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College, Canvey Island



The Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College - Canvey Island

*Traditional Values . . . High Expectations . . . Excellence*

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Careers Education

Careers education and guidance is deeply embedded into the Personal and Social Development (PSD) programme at The Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College, led by Miss P Hill, subject leader. The sections below outline the approach during PSD in each year.

Year 11

Pupils have a timetabled lesson – I hour per week for PSD. As part of the programme, a dedicated teacher covers all aspects of Careers Education – the job application process, and examples of best practice in letter writing, telephoning techniques, interview techniques, etc. Time is given in these lessons to issue and explain the prospectuses for SEEVIC (partner college) and all other local colleges.

The PSD teacher guides the pupils through the process of preparation of relevant materials for their Progress Files.

Individual careers advice is available by self-referral to the Connexions advisor, and by school directed referral for the target group identified by the Head of Learning Support and Head of Year.

70% of the teaching staff take part in the process of visiting pupils during their work experience.

Careers co-ordinator works with the PSD team to take responsibility for monitoring Year 11’s as they finalise their intended destinations at 16+.

Year 10

Pupils have a timetabled lesson – 1 hour per week for PSD. As part of the programme, a dedicated teacher covers all aspects of Careers Education.

In Year 10, this takes the form of:

1 X ½ term careers research module – lessons supported by a Connexions Advisor.

1 X ½ term work experience selection, supported by a parents evening hosted by the school with Trident Trust.

Year 9

Pupils have a timetabled lesson – 1 hour per week for PSD. As part of the programme, a dedicated teacher covers all aspects of Careers Education.

In Year 9, this takes the form of 1 X 8 week module which covers an introduction to the Careers / Connexions library, an opportunity to meet and work with the Connexions advisor and which includes the options selection process – the two events are timed to coincide.

Year 8

Pupils have a timetabled lesson – 1 hour per week for PSD. As part of the programme, a dedicated teacher covers all aspects of Careers Education. In Year 8, this covers an introduction to jobs and careers using a variety of careers support materials. 4 weeks.

Additional Information

Download further information from the links below:

Essex, Southend and Thurrock Connexions Site

Work Experience

Work Experience is provided for pupils for three weeks in the Autumn Term of Year 11 through the Trident Trust.

We define 'work experience' as:

"a placement in an employer’s premises, in which a pupil carries out a particular task or duty, more or less as would be an employee, but with the emphasis on the learning aspects of the experience."

Our aims for this period in the workplace are to:

improve pupils' employability and enterprise skills;

help them develop as individuals and motivate them to see the relevance of work done in school;

promote knowledge of the opportunities available;

show them the value of contribution to society and show society the importance of their contribution and continued participation.

To achieve a successful work experience, Trident expects pupils to:

undertake a job role on an employer's premises based upon an agreed job description;

receive no pay for the work;

obtain a satisfactory Employer's Report at the end of the placement;

think about their strengths and weaknesses and develop a personal action plan;

complete record sheets describing the skills they have learned;

collect evidence to show their progress in Key Skills.

Work Experience Timetable

Parents briefing - parents are invited to a Trident parents evening in February. Trident personnel and school staff have the opportunity to advise parents about the Trident Trust, Skills for Life (Trident Gold Award) and about the part played by the Trident Trust in the provision of safe work experience placements. It provides an opportunity to stress the part that parents can play in discussing placements at home, and in checking, signing and returning paperwork promptly. The nature and value of non-vocational work experience is explained.

Pupils' briefing - the local Trident Director and Work Experience Co-ordinator carry out the initial student briefing – initially through assembly and then in the first of 5 PSD lessons with the Year 10 PSD team. Classroom activities include explaining the objectives of work experience, outlining the stages of the selection process, emphasising student responsibilities, explaining the job description folders and outlining the Trident Gold Award.

Placement selection - pupils will make their selections from the opportunities provided by the local Trident Office. Pupils also have the opportunity to seek their own private contacts for work experience by completion of the ‘green form’. Classroom activities include:

explaining the format of the job selection form and job description forms;

explaining the placement selection procedures including an explanation of the problems of oversubscribed placements

outlining the necessity for 4 choices

emphasising the importance of meeting deadlines.

Parental and tutor support - consultation between student, parent and school takes place as necessary to ensure a suitable placement which has the support of the parent. Parents on request can view job opportunities. All parents see, approve and sign each job selection form. Pastoral Heads provide a written comment and endorse choices, before the forms are sent to Trident.

Final preparation - preparing pupils for interview, travel, dress, rights and responsibilities, equal opportunities, conduct, etc. takes place in the PAS lessons in October / November prior to work experience. Six weeks before the placements, approximately 75% of pupils should have received their placements. The remainder arrive in batched and a reselection process is followed for pupils who have been unsuccessful in their initial choices.

Employers - are informed of relevant factors affecting particular pupils.

Monitoring pupils during work Experience - by teacher visit, and feedback from the employer, either directly to the school or via the Trident Office. A telephone call for reassurance is made early in the first part of the first week and a visit to the workplace made in the second week. A second visit in the third week will be made where a particular need has been identified. The teacher ensures that pupils are achieving their agreed objectives and discuss and resolve any problems either with the employer or pupil.

Pupil debriefing - an annual review is carried out between Trident Director and Work Experience Co-ordinator to identify problems and possible improvements, to agree charges and next year’s timetable.

Insurance and liability considerations - all work experience placements are covered by the employer’s liability insurance. Every effort is made to ensure that the activities undertaken do not endanger the physical, mental or emotional well-being of the pupil. Trident Trust does not provide personal accident of liability insurance cover for students engaged in work experience activities.