At whatever age our students join us, our curriculum allows them to gain a valuable understanding of the world of work and being a valued citizen. It aims to help them overcome any barriers they may face when trying to enter the workplace if appropriate for them. We measure the impact of our careers curriculum in a number of ways, from assessing pupils' understanding of theory work to how well they perform in work experience placements. Wherever possible we also track our students' destinations post-Highfield to establish how many have entered the workplace. 

Vision

To ensure our pupils, their parents and carers, are well informed and prepared to achieve aspirational next steps into adulthood and the world of work.

Our Core Aims

  • To ensure our learners and their parents/carers have access to careers information, advice and guidance
  • To enable learners to understand their potential next steps and explore different pathways and opportunities
  • To enable all learners to access and engage in a high quality and varied careers education programme
  • To provide all learners with meaningful employer encounters and experiences that will prepare them for the world of work
  • To enable our learners to recognise and celebrate their own strengths and what they have to offer within a workplace
  • To prepare learners for a successful transition to their next educational setting or place of work

We encourage as many of our students as possible to take up a work experience placement during Key Stages 4 and 5. As a school we work with local businesses to source placements and we have seen huge benefits for many of our young people. We are always looking for new providers so please do get in touch with Jill on 01353 223301 or via jillian.ladson@highfieldlittleport.org our Work Experience Coordinator. This information is next due for review in September 2023.

Our upper school department leader, Tilly Newbury, is also our careers leader and oversees the delivery of our careers programme as well as college applications and supports Jill Ladson to organise work experience. You can get in touch with Tilly on 01223 223301 or tilly.newbury@highfieldlittleport.org 

Here is a copy of our Provider Access Statement for any providers who would wish to tell our pupils about the opportunities they have on offer

Provider Access Statement SUMMER 2023-24

The Moving On documents contain information for families on education, training, employment and moving from children to adult services for young people in Cambridgeshire with special educational needs and disabilities.  To download the 2020 document from Cambridgeshire County Council please click the image below:

 

Blue pathway end points and transition from Highfield

 

Outcomes for learners in the blue pathway varies according to the individual progress they make in their time at Highfield through the curriculum frameworks and against their EHCP outcomes. All students are entitled to leave with qualifications or recognition drawn from their studies within the 6 areas of learning in the blue pathway. In the blue pathway we use ASDAN Personal Progress as recognition of achievement and qualifications.

 

Learners in the blue pathway are likely to stay on Highfield roll until the end of the year they are 19, unless there is an alternative placement that would suit the individual's needs better than continuation at Highfield. Accessing LINC 19 - 25 is an option that can be explored if the individual's needs could be best met there. Discussions on moving on begin at the same time as learners in the yellow and green pathways, from at least the year 9 annual review. Our Careers strategy  has more detail.

 

Learners can transition onto LINC 19 - 25 subject to Local Authority admissions processes if the individual's needs are best met there. Other options are to move to a mix of social care funded settings, direct payment support to access the community and Learning Disability Partnership input to meet health and care needs. If the learner transitions to a social care funded package or placement, the EHCP ceases. 

 

Green pathway end points and transition from Highfield

 

Outcomes for learners in the green pathway varies according to the individual progress they make in their time at Highfield through the curriculum frameworks and against their EHCP outcomes. However, all students are entitled to leave with qualifications in at least Maths, English, communication and one other curriculum area. In the green pathway we use ASDAN Life Skills Challenges as the qualifications base.  Students also have recognition of achievements through the AQA Unit Award Scheme.

 

Learners in the green pathway are likely to stay on Highfield roll until the end of the year they are 19, unless there is an alternative placement that would suit the individual's needs better than continuation at Highfield. Accessing LINC 19 - 25 is an option that can be explored if the individual's needs could be best met there. Discussions on moving on begin at the same time as learners in the yellow and blue pathways, from at least the year 9 annual review. Our Careers strategy on the school's website has more detail.

 

Learners will transition onto a variety of placements according to the progress they have made and what provision there is available to move on to. Examples of where learners may move onto can be specialist college courses at their local college, accessing a social enterprise, or a combination of both. Learners may move onto social care funded placements, and their EHCP is ceased if that is appropriate to the individual.

 

Yellow pathway end points and transition from Highfield

 

Outcomes for learners on the yellow pathway varies according to the individual progress they make in their time at Highfield through the curriculum frameworks and against their EHCP outcomes. However, all students are entitled to leave with qualifications at an appropriate level. In the yellow pathway, we offer Functional Skills English and Maths at Level 1 and 2, as well as Entry Level 1, 2 and 3.  Students also students also study ASDAN Personal and Social development as a qualifications base.  There is also the option to accredit learning according to the AQA Unit Award scheme.

 

Students within Key Stage 4 have a core learning offer linked to ASDAN and AQA Unit Award scheme.  Students are also studying towards accredited AQA units which gives comprehensive acknowledgement of themes and knowledge in each assessed area. Students also study Personal and Social Development modules with ASDAN to develop their social and emotional skills to prepare them for life and work.  To gain more information of study content for the current Yellow pathway cohort please click the link below:

 

Learners in the yellow pathway are likely to stay on roll until the end of Year 11. Discussions on moving on begin at the same time as learners in the green and blue pathways, from at least the year 9 annual review, coupled with other guidance including a careers interview and moving on events. Our Careers strategy on the school's website has more detail.

 

Nearly all yellow pathway learners will transition to a local mainstream college to study within specialist college courses at an appropriate level, taking into account the level of study they accessed at Highfield. The programmes of study at college include Maths and English alongside a range of vocational options that they can in turn take into employment. A minority leave Highfield and gain employment without accessing college first.

Preparation for Adulthood Parents Guide February 2022

 

Gatsby Benchmarks

For students in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 we have a comprehensive programme to prepare students for the world of work which is in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks.  This framework is used in order to improve careers provision in schools.

The eight Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

You can see more about the Gatsby Benchmarks which guide our strategy by clicking this link.

You can read more about our careers programme and strategy liked to the Gatsby Benchmarks here: Careers Strategy HLA

We measure the impact of this programme by tracking leavers destinations post Highfield Littleport.  Last year we had 3 leavers and all moved on to college courses linked to their individual interests and career aspirations.

 

What College Options Are There?

Jill and Tilly, along with the class teachers, can guide students with information related to students next steps.  Here there is a wealth of information related to options for the next step after Highfield.  Some of our learners leave at the end of Year 11 to progress on to college courses studying Entry Level qualifications.  There are a wealth of options in the local area. Click on the pictures for more information.

 

                           

 

                               

 

 

 

 

Options for Supported Learning and Living

                         

                                   

 

Options for Work

Take a look at the Moving on into Work document found in the link below.  There are a variety of options involving supported internships, apprenticeships and supported work placements.  Click on the picture below where you can access more information.

                                                                                                   

There is a suite of support available for families from the additional needs team within the Local Offer.  Click this link to read more about the support they can offer.

Post Highfield all of our learners have moved on to specialist college courses.  The graph in this link details this information about our leavers.  This is in comparison to the overall leavers destinations for the county in this link.