We have a dedicated careers department run by our Career Education Manager, Caroline Hiorns, a level 7 qualified and registered career development professional, whom pupils can arrange to chat to at any time. In addition to this invaluable support, pupils also have access to a well-equipped Careers library and a range of online resources such as eclips-online and Unifrog.
Throughout a pupil’s time at Wycliffe, Life Skills lessons, tutor time and career activities will support pupils in building these skills, awareness of self and the world around. Each pupil will develop a career portfolio providing opportunities to reflect on their career journey.
All pupils attend Life Skills sessions run by a team of Life Skills teachers where pupils cover topics such as ‘Getting to Know Yourself’ and ‘Starting Your Personal Careers Journey’. Each pupil is encouraged to develop their own electronic career portfolio as they progress through the school. This includes sections on their favourite subjects, passions, skills, interests, priorities and future plans. Unifrog is used as the storage place.
Our onsite careers staff utilise a network of employers, Old Wycliffians, university contacts and other organisations to provide meaningful encounters offering a first-hand perspective to pupils during career activities. This is particularly in evidence at the annual Futures Fair where pupils have the opportunity to hear about a very wide range of subjects, sectors and different career journeys.
At the start of Year 9, pupils are introduced to the career portfolio in a launch event.During Enterprise and Options Day; business professionals support teams of students to build their employability skills in a workshop environment to design a product, write and present their business proposal. The GCSE Option fair provides an opportunity to talk about GCSE subjects.
The focus for Year 10 is on exploring the vast array of possible future roles and study options in the Future Me event, highlighting the need to “try on different hats” in the quest for future direction.
Time is spent considering how decisions are made.A whole year group trip to a University acquaints pupils with university life.
During Year 11 and International Students’ Development Year, our Career Education Manager carries out one-to-one career guidance sessions with pupils helping them to build career management skills and to identify “clues” in their individual career portfolio that may suggest possible future routes.
Life Skills lessons focus on job application and interview technique leading to our Mock Interview day where pupils promote themselves in an application and then are interviewed by trained interviewers. In recent years interviews have been virtual.
In the sixth form Life Skills teachers mentor every pupil individually in Year 12 to get a true insight into their onwards plan. A programme of lectures, guest speakers and visits to university open days ensure Year 12 pupils gain a comprehensive understanding of Higher Education. One to one guidance sessions are also available at any time with the Career Education Manager.
In Year 12 a post-18 options day covers the full range of destinations from apprenticeships to universities in the UK and overseas to gap years and employment.
All pupils also take part in the Aspire event where they are required to research a role or company to which they aspire, the skills required, their suitability and the route to success. For those whose ideas are unclear this is a marvellous opportunity to start their investigations. Each pupil then gives a 6 minutes presentation to a member of the business community and this is assessed.
Pupils who aspire to Oxbridge or medicine, veterinary or dentistry are supported by Dr Rose. Those who are considering overseas have the dedicated support of Bobbie Miller.
Excellent advice and support are given to pupils regarding future careers through the Careers Department, the Life Skills (personal, social, health and economic education) Programme and the tutorial system.
Our passionate and proficient team welcomes you to experience our Outstanding Cotswold Campus. Walk through the doors and pathways that will inspire your child.
We’ve answered your most frequently asked questions below. For further support, please contact our Admissions Manager:
Fiona.lawson-best@wycliffe.co.uk
