At Red Rose School, our aim is to see each of our students thrive, grow in confidence and have a strong sense of their own unique personality and strengths.
Pastoral, social and emotional provision is embedded in each class. In addition, students’ strengths and interests are developed through the learning within the curriculum.
Students’ awareness, knowledge and understanding of the world of work extends through Learning outside the Classroom. Community visits, cultural trips and encounters help our students explore the varied local resources and enterprises. These include rural farms and RHS gardens, the hospitality industry and, the lifeboat, fire and rescue services. Our students gain valuable skills through supported Volunteering besides real life talks with business owners who share their personal career paths.
As students progress through school, the learning journey becomes channelled into programmes of study. Our 
young people learn about the routes and qualifications they will need for their future career choices.
Visits to and from colleges, learning providers and employers help to develop their awareness, support their studies and consider next steps.
Through students’ EHC Plan reviews we work alongside each of our young people, their parents, Local Authority and the college or training provider to fully support the transition from school to the next stage of learning.
Our careers programme uses the SEND perspective of the Gatsby Benchmarks. The varied strengths, needs and profiles of our young people can be identified on Talentino’s ‘Same and Different’ model
The benchmarks 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
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
The Careers Programme can be viewed here. It is reviewed annually against the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Practice in Careers Guidance. We review the impact of activities on our pupils’ awareness of the world of work so our programme can be improved as appropriate.
Careers vision:
The careers education will support our pupils to make informed careers choices enabling them to fulfil their potential. It will build the awareness, values and skills for our pupils to fully contribute within society in our modern world.
Stage 1:
Pupils learn about the careers associated with our school, their family and people who help us. The children have visits including, the Blackpool Schools and Youth Team, the Fire Brigade and Police service. Careers are taught as part of the PHSE program and embedded in the topics that are taught within the curriculum.. The pupils are taught about enterprise, roles in working together as a team, and the importance of well-being. The pupils are shown the importance of working, contributing to society and how money is used. A cross section of jobs are examined, looking at what they do and how to go about entering that profession. This overlaps into:
Stage 2:
Careers information continues to be covered throughout termly topics and areas of the curriculum including, PHSE, ICT, English and Maths. Through these, pupils learn about work that is available in our local community and globally. For example, as part of Food Technology, pupils may go out into the local community, select shops from which to buy ingredients. Visits to local shops and services, are embedded in the curriculum, as well as having visitors coming into school to talk to pupils e.g. public services such as the police and the Cadets teams. Although not taught as a discreet lesson, careers are embedded throughout the curriculum within KS3 to prepare them for life once they have left school.
Stage 3/4:
Careers are taught as part of the PSHE qualification (Personal Growth and Well-Being) and in Pastoral sessions. Students learn about Health and Safety; write work-related applications and supported to use writing techniques. Students attend careers events where a central venue is attended by local employers, training providers and educational establishments. Students discuss post-16 options in their EHCP annual review. Students also take part in volunteering in the local community and have a range of leadership opportunities as they move through the school e.g. school council representatives. The school will employ a level 6 careers advisor where possible to give students the opportunity to have a one to one careers interview.
Students in Key stages 3-5 have subject options including Construction, that takes them outside the classroom. Wider skills involve independence and resilience e.g. travelling to our vocational Provider to gain practical skills and City and Guilds qualification.
Students in Year 11 and 12 who are leaving Red Rose to attend an alternative FE provision in the area, undertake a one week block of external work experience at a business of their choice. The process of identifying placements is linked to the pupil’s aspirations for adulthood as far as possible. Recent placements have included: a local hotel, a Nursing home, Cafe, and Charity shop.
Students also undertake work experience within school in the following areas: site staff, catering, support staff and administration.
Local employers and supportive businesses are continually sought for widening the work experience for our students, and to host visits to their establishment.
Key Stages 2-3 also take part in Enterprise days where pupils within a class undertake roles as accountants, marketing managers and workforce, to make and sell products within the school e.g. Cake Sale for ‘Children in Need’.
Teachers and Support Staff:
Within individual classes, teachers and support staff are aware of their role in providing both formal and informal careers guidance. In the delivery of core curriculum subjects, teachers incorporate activities which focus on careers-related learning. In effect all staff are responsible for careers guidance. Next steps are always discussed at the student’s Annual Review including career options as they get older.
Premises and facilities
A provider wishing to request access to come and speak to students should contact: [email protected]
The school will make the main hall or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Coordinator or a member of their team. The careers and provider access policy is here.
What jobs or professions would interest YOU?