If students have any general questions about careers, higher education, future plans or work experience, they should speak to Mr Mansfield
Students have access to a wide range of careers support at Highgate Wood School. Students from any year group can access guidance from our professional careers advisers by emailing careers@hws.haringey.sch.uk to book an appointment.
Careers Team: Mr Dean Mansfield
Email: careers@hws.haringey.sch.uk
College and Sixth Form Open events for 2024/5 can be viewed here:
College and Sixth Form Centre Open Events 2024 – 2025
Pupils, parents, teachers and employers may also access further information about the careers programme by contacting the Careers Leader directly.
Our professional career advisors are able to offer expert, impartial guidance on the following topics:
• Career Planning
• UCAS advice
• Apprenticeships and Employment with Training
• Work Shadowing
• A Level choice
• Degree choice
• Degree study in Europe and beyond
• Personal statements
• Student finance
• CVs, applications, cover letters and interview skills
• Interest guides
• School leaver opportunities – apprenticeships, jobs & training schemes
Everybody receives one guidance interview at KS4 and a second interview at KS5. In addition to guidance students also receive careers input via Life Skills.
Year 7:
• Introduction into careers and introduction to Unifrog
• Ambitions – who inspires you? What/who do you want to be?
• Visiting speakers from local employers
Year 8:
• Exploring Careers through Unifrog and Start.
• Visiting speakers from local employers.
Year 9:
• Exploration of Year 9 options and future careers.
• Introduction to University and Apprenticeships – visiting speakers from Universities/current apprentices.
• Exploring careers through Unifrog, Start, Prospects
• Personal Finance Skills
• Visiting speakers from local employers
Year 10:
• Work experience, CV’s and interview practice
• Learning about Post-16 Options
• Visiting speakers from local employers, college and apprenticeship providers
Year 11:
• Taster days at local colleges.
• Talks from local employers
• Careers Fair where students will be able to meet employers, employees and other education providers.
• Post-16 options
• Next Steps Day. Depending on what students are likely to qualify students will either experience:
1 – ‘a day in the life of a HWS Sixth Former’ where students who are likely to achieve the minimum requirements of our sixth form will come to the sixth form area and attend A Level taster lessons.
2 – ‘Applications Day’ where students who want to complete vocational courses elsewhere or are unlikely to achieve the minimum requirements of our Sixth Form have the opportunity to meet college and apprenticeship providers, research local Post-16 options, apply for colleges and apprenticeships and work with Ms Smith and Mr Stonehouse, our careers guidance professionals.
Year 12:
• University visit
• Careers fair (Tottenham Stadium)
• Work experience
• Visiting speakers from local employers, universities and apprenticeship providers
• Oxbridge application screening
Year 13:
• Support and presentations on CVs, Letters and Application formats
• A Level results and clearing service
• UCAS Evening
• Visiting speakers from local employers, universities and apprenticeship providers
Highgate Wood School in the first instance, measures and assesses its career programme against the Gatsby Career Benchmarks using Compass+ as well as an annual survey completed by students, parents and carers and staff..
In relationship to other parts of the curriculum and other policies Careers education is conducted in accordance with the School’s equal opportunities policy, work experience policy, external visits policy and other relevant policies. The whole school remit of careers is recognised and the whole careers related curriculum is currently being developed alongside that of other areas so that careers education is an integral part of the whole school curriculum.
Below is our summer 2023 self-evaluation completed using Compass+ which shows our progress in meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks, a nationally approved set of guidelines and standards for careers education in schools.
In addition to our self-assessment we received feedback from a little over 300 students, parents and staff. Below is the key feedback we received and our response.
|
Parents thought there was a lack of visibility of careers and many were unaware we offer independent careers guidance and had little knowledge of virtual work experience opportunities. Staff also indicated they had little knowledge of virtual work experience opportunities. |
In response we are: – Updating the careers part of our website.- Signposting opportunities on Satchel (although there is an indication that this is now too frequent, we are searching for another option).- Signposting opportunities to staff through the staff bulletin. |
| Parents asked for more information aimed at parents in particular for apprenticeships, T Levels and student finance. | In response we are: – Updating the careers part of our website.- Organising webinars aimed at parents. |
| Many parents and students requested more opportunities to complete work experience. | In response we are: – Organising a work experience week in April for Year 10 students. |
| Students have asked for lessons in personal finance, making CV’s and interview practice. | In response we are: – Updating the careers part of our website.- Updating the Life Skills curriculum to include Personal Finance lessons in Year 7 and 9. We are also hoping to have a workshop at KS4. |
| Staff have requested more support for SEND and EAL students to help them access appropriate courses and experience open evenings. | In response we are: – Working with the SEND department to identify key needs.- Continuing to prioritise SEND and EAL students with career interviews and work experience opportunities. |
Our key priorities for 2023-24 are: