Careers Education at Christchurch Learning Centre

The Centre has worked hard to review its offer and improve on previous interventions over the last year regarding careers advice and guidance.  We are invested in working with the Local Authority and use the Compass Tool kit to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the pupils referred to our provision.  A copy of our latest audit can be provided to Governors on request. We currently meet all eight Gatsby Benchmarks and work hard to maintain these.

Our current Careers Education is delivered in conjunction with out PSHE curriculum by: 

Mrs Julia Legg 

Mrs Becky Clark 

The lead professional for Careers Education is Mrs Julia Legg who has completed the level 6 Careers Leader course along with the Careers Guidance and Development courses. 

After a full review of our PSHE and Careers curriculum, including policy development, we offer the following: 

KS3 discuss career options in Summer term 2 

Year 10 discuss career options in Summer term 2 along with work experience packages where appropriate. 

Year 11s discuss careers options in Autumn term 2, Spring term 1 and Summer term 2. 

More time is allocated to Year 11s as the requirement to identify a post 16 destination is imminent. We aim for all our Year 11s to complete applications for college/apprenticeships in Autumn term 2 as the pupils will be sitting their Mock GCSEs. This timing ensures we have up to date information regarding predicted grades. 

Throughout the year, we also offer our students the chance to attend various career related provisions:

Employability Day – February/March 

Independent Personal Guidance (with Mrs Julia Legg) – July/September/October 

Careers and Apprenticeship Show – March  

College tours and alternative provision providers – November-February 

Employer engagement (internal and external) – throughout the year 

We also help the students to create their CV’s and offer one-to-one support and guidance with applying for college courses/apprenticeships if required. We have also facilitated Teams and over the phone interviews with colleges, making it easier for the students to access, though most colleges now insist on face-to-face. 

The Centre website has a number of allocated pages for Careers, where both pupils and parents can find advice, guidance and labour market information.

Links and helpful downloads

Labour Market Information – Skillsometer/Careerometer

Curriculum map

PSHE policy

RSE policy

Careers Education Policy – please click here to download our careers education policy.

Parent-Progression-Presentation – please click here to download more information about further education and future pathways.

Application-for-Provider-Access  – please click here to download our application form.

BCP Open Evenings – New dates will be available in September for the next academic year.

PSHCE and careers

Our PSHCE curriculum aims to deliver a holistic approach to learning which ensures that learners are provided with up to date, factual information in order to make positive, informed choices which supports a healthy lifestyle in relation to physical, emotional, intellectual, social and economic health and wellbeing.

Learning resources are from credible sources to ensure that information is non-biased and appropriate for learners.  PSHCE teachers understand the importance of not allowing personal beliefs and attitudes to influence teaching materials and discussions, and furthermore that PSHCE subjects must be delivered with integrity and sensitivity.

These qualifications have been specifically selected and trialled with particular reference to the needs and learning patterns of pupils who attend the Centre. These qualifications are versatile and can be tailored and personalised to individual needs which ensures that each learner has the opportunity to learn at their own pace and achieve accreditation which underpin the PSHCE teaching they have acquired.

Our short courses also enable learners on a short term placement or who join the cohort for longer term periods, to access the rolling programme and achieve credits which may enable them to accrue a module achievement and certification.

The curriculum underpins the Centre’s ethos and values to ensure that learners are able to access a personalised curriculum. It also encompasses the Centre’s mission statement which states ‘to prepare all for the next steps in their journey to success’, as it supports further education and career development, as well as ensuring that learners know how to make healthy and safe life decisions.  The PSHCE curriculum covers the statutory subjects of relationships, sex and health education and careers education.

The Department for Education (DfE) has adopted the Gatsby Career Benchmarking indicators as a best practice tool to support careers education.

These are:

• A stable careers programme
• Learning from career and labour market information
• Addressing the needs of each pupil
• Linking curriculum learning to careers
• Encounters with employers and employees
• Experience of workplaces
• Encounters with further and higher education
• Personal guidance

Our careers team works collaboratively with external agencies to establish opportunities to achieve these markers and embed the Gatsby Benchmark indicators within the school community and curriculum.

Our careers team comprises of:

Mrs Legg – Careers Leader/PSHCE Teacher

Mrs Clark – Careers Advise and Support/PSHCE Teacher

Please contact our team using pshe@clc.dorset.sch.uk

Post 16 destinations

Of last year’s cohort of pupils, the majority had identified a post 16 destination before leaving the school. Staff worked with pupils and families to support the application completion, interview preparation etc. 

The majority of our pupils chose to apply to our local colleges and education providers to continue education and training. Many approached Bournemouth & Poole College and some Brockenhurst College, SWRAC, Linwood School and Connie Rothman Learning Trust. 

Post 16 Providers