Education

Careers

Careers information advice and guidance at the lifehouse encompasses a variety of information, skills and experiences that supports pupils challenges and aspirations.

"It’s about young people finding purpose, discovering what matters to them, their place in the world, the point of studying and getting up in the morning. Sometimes people think careers is just information about options and planning for the future. It’s so much more. It can give hope, meaning, purpose, self esteem and the ability to navigate the challenges of life."

Liane Hambly

All pupils from year 8 receive career guidance to make informed decisions about their future and for social mobility The programme is designed and implemented to meet the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks set out in the statutory guidance for careers education.

Benchmark 1: A stable careers programme The programme is embedded into the curriculum and schemes of work. It is integral to the pupils, teachers and all those in our school community.

Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information Every pupil, and their parents, have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will have the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information

Benchmark 3: Addressing the needs of each pupil Our pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support are tailored to the needs of each pupil.

Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers All teachers link curriculum learning with careers. Schemes of work identify potential career paths for the subject area and transferable skills are highlighted in PfA sessions.

Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees Pupils will have appropriate opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This is achieved by a range of enrichment activities including group discussions, visiting speakers, volunteering, work experience or supported Internship programmes.

Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces Pupils will have first-hand experiences of the workplace, appropriate to their needs, through work visits, work shadowing, work experience and / or Supported Internships to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education Pupils will be supported to understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. Pupils will be supported to engage in appropriate transition activities to ensure maximum opportunity for success in their next steps.

Benchmark 8: Personal guidance Pupils will have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, either internal or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These will be available each year from year 8 and will be timed to meet the individual needs of the pupil.

Results

At Bettws Lifehouse our pupils are encouraged to achieve and exceed aspirations. All pupils have bespoke pathways that include qualifications at levels appropriate to the individual.

When they enter the Upper school, all pupils study core subjects in PSHE, English, Mathematics. Science, Digital Literacy and Life Skills. They are supported by an identified wellbeing support mentor, in individual wellbeing sessions, to build resilience and aspire to meet their individual targets. They are encouraged to review their targets and consider aspirational targets in their chosen subjects.

In addition to core subjects all pupils study a range of optional subjects and qualifications, choosing from the 4 strands in the ‘Preparing for Adulthood Framework’. These qualifications are varied covering both standard and vocational subjects from Entry level and Level 1, to GCSE in Key stage 4 and from Entry Level to ‘A’ Levels and Level 3 Vocational in Key Stage 5, Post 16.

Our results for the past three years have been excellent, and we are proud of the achievements of all our pupils, as they continue to improve year on year.

Wider Curriculum

Duke Of Edinburgh

Students are offered the opportunity to complete the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards as part of their curriculum at the Lifehouse. For one day a week the students work as part of a team on the different sections within the award. They usually start with a volunteering project that everyone works on together as this helps to teach the students to work as part of a team. In previous years we have cleared Canal paths, picked up litter and improved facilities at a Nature Reserve.

The Skills and Practical sections of the award are normally completed as an individual in other lessons within the school day or in their own time out of school. We particularly encourage students to explore a new Skill or Activity out of school hours as this can also help to develop social skills as well as meet new friends.

The climax of the year is the Expedition section which requires a lot of training. First Aid, Camp Craft, Map Reading and a lot of practice walks to build up the fitness. Then it’s time to plan the Practice and Qualifying Expedition which means 1 or 2 nights of camping out which can, at times be the first time our students have spent a night away from home.

Its not just an award but an experience that teaches them so much more

Forest School

Forest School focus on the social, emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual development of their learners. The nurturing environment encourages young people to develop a positive relationship with the outdoor, natural world.

The ethos of a Forest School is based on a fundamental respect for young people and the encouragement of their curiosity in the world. Forest School aims to build resilience to encourage a learner’s creative engagement with other people, their environment, and their own potential. They aim to encourage self-reflection and build strong social and emotional skills that will follow them into adulthood.

It is because of these values that we offer weekly sessions to all our students and will be developing our Forest School at our new site which is walking distance from the schools front door.

The Life Skills Curriculum is made up of sessions covering a range of topics. The aim is to put in place a number of fixed subject areas and then allow the student to add in the other headings that they feel would be most beneficial to their development.

All the resource sections have PowerPoints, video links, work sheets and practical challenges. A large number of them have complete workbooks for young people to complete that can take anything from 1 to 10 sessions and can easily be adapted to suit the needs of the young person.

Our Life Skills sessions are mostly individual lessons, with some longer sessions. Students decide which topics they would like to cover and the practical challenge that goes with the topic. Our main focus is the area of Independent living because the Employment section is being covered during our PFA (preparing For Adulthood) session where the students complete a number of BTEC units and the Good Health, Friendships etc are mostly covered in PSHE sessions.

The aim at the end of a year is for the young person to have a “Handbook for Life” full of information that they have created or adapted for themselves in a language and format that is best for them and this will include completed work from PSHE and PFA sessions.