Careers at CWLC

CWLC Careers Newsletter

About Careers

At Christopher Whitehead Language College and Sixth Form, we believe that careers guidance has never been more crucial for young people than it is today.

We have high aspirations for all our students and are committed to providing outstanding careers advice and guidance. Our responsibility is to prepare students for the next steps in their education, training, and future careers. The pathways they encounter are more varied and complex than those faced by previous generations. With increasing global opportunities and rapid technological progress, today’s young people are likely to pursue multiple careers over their lifetimes, including roles that do not yet exist.

To succeed in this evolving landscape, we aim to equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to embrace opportunities and manage the challenges ahead. By encouraging informed decision-making, we ensure they feel ready to face transitions and seize the possibilities before them.

Careers education at Christopher Whitehead is a whole-school commitment. It is not a standalone aspect but a fully integrated part of our curriculum and wider school life. This ensures that every student has access to the advice, information, and experiences necessary to plan their future with confidence.

Students begin their careers education journey in Years 7 and 8, where they explore career ideas and start planning their futures using resources designed to inspire and inform. In Year 9, this research deepens with dedicated advice and guidance to help students make informed Key Stage 4 option choices.

In Year 10, students gain invaluable real-world experience through a week-long work placement in May. Preparation for this is embedded in their careers lessons, with a focus on finding and applying for placements. We work in partnership with Worcestershire Education Business Partnership (WEBP) and maintain strong links with a network of local employers who enthusiastically support and welcome our students each year.

In Years 11, 12, and 13, students benefit from individual careers guidance interviews to support their post-16 and post-18 choices. Themed lessons cover key topics such as CV writing, apprenticeship research, and application processes. Sixth Form students also have a dedicated staff member to assist with UCAS applications, with a strong focus on gaining places at Russell Group universities. For those pursuing competitive pathways such as Oxbridge or careers in Medicine, Veterinary Science, and Dentistry, we offer bespoke tutorials to help them succeed.

Our annual Careers Week is a key feature of our programme, beginning with a Year 11 careers assembly, followed by mock interviews conducted by local employers. The week culminates in a careers fair attended by representatives from local and national businesses, colleges, and universities, offering students of all year groups valuable exposure to a wide range of opportunities.

Students also have opportunities to attend careers events, both in person and virtually, and to visit businesses and further/higher education institutions. Sixth Form students can take part in a programme of careers breakfasts, with targeted sessions for those aspiring to Oxbridge or fields like Medicine and Veterinary Science.

Our careers programme is built on the foundation of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, which represent best practices in careers education:

A stable and structured careers programme
Learning from career and labour market information
Meeting the individual needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Opportunities to experience workplaces
Exploring further and higher education opportunities
Personalised guidance

Christopher Whitehead is proud to be a member of the Careers Hub Worcestershire, a network of twenty schools dedicated to achieving excellence in careers education. With strong links to local and national training providers, we are working towards fully embedding the Gatsby Benchmarks to ensure the highest standards of support for our students.

Through this comprehensive and personalised approach, we empower every student to explore, plan, and achieve their aspirations in an ever-evolving world.

Employer information

We believe that employer engagement is fundamental to educating students about the local and national employment opportunities that are available to them after Christopher Whitehead.

We are very keen to engage with businesses and employers to help us inform and educate students about local and national employment opportunities. We offer a range of opportunities for businesses to interact with our students. These include work experience, careers fairs, assemblies (face-to-face and virtual), skills workshops, mock interviews and small group work. These link directly to Gatsby Benchmarks 5 and 6.

If you would like to get involved, or wish to advertise any apprenticeship vacancies, then please

Email: c.hunter@cwlc.email

Telephone: 01905 423906 and ask to be transferred to Mrs Hunter

Information for Parents / Carers

https://www.amazingapprenticeships.com/zones/parent/
Application for Provider Access – PDF Form
A Parents Guide to Post 16 and Post 18 options
https://www.ucas.com/discover/advice-parents-guardians-and-carers
Learn Live
All students from Year 8 onward have access to an online resource called Cascaid with up-to-date information about the labour market, future study options and career pathways. www.cascaid.co.uk
https://www.talkingfutures.org.uk/
The Future of Work
Heart of Worcester College – information for students and families on the new T-Levels
This is a link for parents and carers giving general information about Apprenticeships nationwide. For more localised information have a look at https://worcsapprenticeships.org.uk/
Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth
Paths to Careers – A Parent’s Guide
Skills 4 Worcestershire
Worcester Apprenticeships
Skills 4 Worcestershire – Careers and Education
Parents Guide to – T-Levels
Worcestershire Employment Market
Explore LMI
National Careers Service
Careers Worcs– The Careers Hub on the ground floor of The Hive is open Monday to Friday for advice and help on all things careers, education, employment and apprenticeship related and advice on housing, benefits and wellbeing too. For 15-24 year olds in Worcestershire.

Parents’ Pledge

At Christopher Whitehead Language College and Sixth Form, we are proud to work in partnership with the Worcestershire Careers Hub to offer parents and carers the opportunity to support the Inspiring Worcestershire campaign.

The Parents’ Pledge is a fantastic way for parents and carers to actively contribute to enhancing our school’s careers programme. As the biggest influencers in young people’s lives, your guidance plays a vital role in shaping their decisions about future education and career pathways.

By collaborating with our school’s careers team, parents and carers can share their knowledge, insights, and experiences to help students understand the skills, qualifications, and opportunities needed to succeed in the world of work.

There are many ways to get involved, and your level of commitment can be flexible to suit your availability. No matter how you choose to contribute, your support will make a meaningful impact.

Here are some examples of how you can participate:

Conducting mock interviews
Delivering assembly talks
Hosting workplace visits
Offering work experience opportunities
Attending careers fairs
Supporting curriculum-based careers activities

If you’re interested in joining this initiative, we encourage you to complete our short pledge form. Your involvement will play a key part in inspiring the next generation and preparing them for a bright future.

Labour Market Information (LMI)

Understanding Labour Market Information (LMI) is an essential aspect of effective career planning. By exploring future job demand both locally and nationally, students can make more informed decisions about their education and career pathways.

We encourage you to use our interactive Labour Market Information Tool, which provides key details about various occupations, including pay, working hours, and future employment prospects. This tool is invaluable for identifying and comparing potential careers.

For additional support and resources, visit Skills4Worcestershire, a website designed to provide comprehensive insights into the labour market and career opportunities in the region.

Equip yourself with the knowledge to make informed choices and plan for a successful future!

Levels of education

SEND Provision

Every student with SEND follows the same programme of careers as their peers, with adaption and support from the SEND team where appropriate.

SEND Life Beyond School – Choices Booklet Issue 1

SEND Life Beyond School – Choices Booklet Issue 2

Careers Lead:	Mr C Flanders Email: c.flanders@cwlc.email
Careers Oversight:	Mr D Thacker-Smith Email: d.thacker-smith@cwlc.email
Careers Advisers:	Mrs C Hunter Email: c.hunter@cwlc.email Mrs D Watts Email: d.watts@cwlc.email
Work experience Support Officer:	Mrs D Watts Email: d.watts@cwlc.email
Enterprise Advisers:	Ms S Howells Email: showells@worcestershire.gov.uk Ms A King Email: aking@worcestershire.gov.uk

SEND Life Beyond School – Choices Booklet Issue 3

Please click the button below to open the link

Click Here

Christopher Whitehead Careers Team