In the next few weeks there will be lots of debate, discussion, soul searching, negotiating, diplomacy and arbitration required! No, not the post Brexit trade talks, not how to move out of lockdown or how to get children back into schools.
It’s that time of year we discuss Year 9 GCSE options and Year 11 Post 16 choices, course options and destinations after Webber. We light the blue touch paper and stand back! Where we ridiculously ask the question of a 14 or 16 year old “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’m still working on that and I’m 52!
Keeping doors and options open to allow room to flex and grown and change your mind, again and again and again! – Just exactly how it should be. I’m glad when they don’t know at 14, 15, 16 or 18 – it’s all open and fluid and exciting. However, realistically we do need to pin them down for now to a timetable, a curriculum a syllabus and a post 16 destination of choice.
To help with this process we have our Year 9 online GCSE Options Evening, Post 16 Information Evenings, one to one family video chats with SLT, PSHCE sessions, Form Tutor mentoring and subject teacher input.
Our Year 10 and 11 Careers Programme ‘My Career Choices’ offers online psychometric assessments and aptitude tests used to generate a personalised guide to hundreds of possible career matches and post 16 options to explore and an action plan for further research with helpful videos and career profiles. This next steps plan is discussed in a one-on-one meeting with the specialist ‘My Careers Choice’ consultant and each Year 10 and 11 student and their family.
Yes, there is life after Webber – who knew? Scary, exciting and a whole world of possibilities – we give our young people the compass, the map, pack the tools in their bags and give them the confidence to stride out and be brave on their continuing learning journey.
Happy travelling Year 9s, 10s and Year 11s!