CAREERS AND ENRICHMENT
At West Buckland, our job is to make sure all our students have the best possible chance for a fulfilling and successful future and to equip them with all the tools to do this.
Future Guidance
Taking the Right Path
Whether students are going to university or taking the path of apprenticeships or other routes into work, our carefully planned careers programme aims to do just this, allowing them to review, plan and manage their learning and progression to the next stage and beyond.
This is done in a number of ways…
HOW WE WORK
Real life contacts with the world of work and higher education, including workplace visits, work experience, visiting speakers and trips to open days
Inspirational role models, including alumni, from the careers to which they aspire through the weekly careers lunch programme
Independent and face to face careers advice and guidance
Promoting a range of career choices in a variety of areas including STEM, languages, social sciences, arts and humanities, and the armed forces
Developing basic career management skills like CV writing and interview skills
Using web-based information including the National Careers Service, UCAS, Plotr and Passportfolio
LAYING THE OPTIONS OPEN
University Entrance: We support Sixth Form students’ career choices by providing information on such topics as writing personal statements, completing UCAS forms, student finance and the confirmation/clearing process. We help students to attend Open Days and other information forums so that they make informed choices with confidence.
Other Options: In addition, students are informed about the broader range of options, including apprenticeships, gap years and studying abroad.
Work Experience: when students are unable to arrange their own work experience, the school will use its own contacts, often through our alumni or local employers so that students can benefit from the advantages it offers.
ENRICHMENT - OUR WORLD
Our students will be entering an ever-changing world after school and so a key aspect of Sixth Form life at West Buckland is our enrichment programme. Students can broaden their experiences and skills through activities outside the classroom, whether this is in the areas of sport, art, music, drama or voluntary service.
This is not only important for personal development but contributes greatly to university applications.
A detailed and wide-ranging Enrichment programme in the Sixth Form aims to support the students’ career choices further by offering information on such topics as writing personal statements, completing UCAS forms, student finance, life at university and confirmation/clearing process.
However, enrichment goes beyond further education paths, it aims to enlighten students, broaden their interests, give them a vision beyond the boundaries of education and to appreciate the opportunities available to them.