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.
Our yellow and the majority of our green pathway learners move on at age 16 to an appropriate additional needs college course. These courses are classed as full time courses but are spaced over 3 days per week. We do not currently have a 6th form provision at Highfield Littleport as we do not have large enough numbers to make a viable cohort. Only learners within our complex green and blue pathway's will be eligible to study at our sixth form provision.
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.
We aspire for students on Yellow Pathway to leave Key Stage 4 with a qualification in ASDAN Personal and Social Development (PSD), and most will gain Functional Skills qualifications in maths and English. In addition, they will have at least 5 AQA Unit Award certificates. These unit award certificates are linked to their talents and interests as well as preparing students for everyday life and living. Students on the Green Pathway will leave with a qualification in ASDAN Personal and Social Development and at least 4 AQA Unit Award Certificates. Students on the Complex Green and Blue pathways will leave Key Stage 4 with a qualification in ASDAN Personal Progress (PP) and at least 3 AQA Unit Award Certificates.
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 Stage 4. 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 Andrea on 01353 223301 or via andrea.beacom@highfieldlittleport.org our Work Experience Coordinator. This information is next due for review in September 2025.
Our Assistant Headteacher, Lyn Houghton, is also our careers leader and oversees the delivery of our careers programme as well as college applications and supports Andrea Beacom to organise work experience. You can get in touch with Lyn on 01223 223301 or lyn.houghton@highfieldlittleport.org
We understand the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, staff and visitors. In accordance with the Baker Clause, we provide opportunities for our students to explore a variety of post secondary education, life and career options. We are committed to providing access to information and resources that will help our students and parents to make informed decisions about their future pathways. Our policy ensures that all students, regardless of need or ability, receive comprehensive and impartial guidance on their options. This includes apprenticeships, technical education and employment opportunities. We values diversity and will support our students in pursuing their goals and aspirations with the most appropriate support and guidance.
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, this also details our provision outlined within the Baker Clause.
Provider Access Statement SUMMER 2024-25
If you click here you will also find our Careers and Work Related Learning policy encompassing our approach.
Post Highfield so far all of our learners have moved on to specialist college courses. The graph in this link shows information about our leavers.
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 23-25
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.
Preparing for Adulthood
The Preparing for Adulthood 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 document from Cambridgeshire County Council please click the image below:
The Local Authority have an extensive guide to support the move into adulthood. Take a look at the SEND Information Hub in the link below to find out about options moving into adulthood.
Cambridgeshire County Council Preparing for Adult Life
There is a PFA helpline is available every Monday of each week from 9am-12pm . Please contact contact Martine Simpson-Thomas on 07484520039 or email martine.simpson-thomas@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
What College Options Are There?
Andrea and Lyn, 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. The majority of college courses are classed as full time however they operate 3 days per week. The full time hours are compressed into three days. Click on the pictures for more information.
Options for Supported Learning and Living
These options are mainly appropriate for learners following our Green, Complex Green and Blue pathways. They may also be appropriate for work experience placements for other learners.
Options for Work
Take a look at the Moving on into Work document found linked in the picture below. There are a variety of options involving supported internships, apprenticeships and supported work placements.
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.
LINC 19-25
LINC19-25 is a provision specifically suited to meet the needs of young adults with PMLD. This provision is based at Highfield Ely Academy. LINC19-25 offers specialist therapy services, such as Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy and be able to meet the personal, daily and medical needs of young adults with PMLD.
We have a number of on-site facilities to support the learning and needs of our young adults:
- on-site hydrotherapy pool
- over-head tracking systems in all learning environments
- dedicated changing rooms
- access to specialist services such as Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
- sensory garden
- horticultural area
- adapted kitchen and flat for lifelong learning activities
- sports facilities
We will constantly track the progress of our young adults and offer accredited courses at LINC19-25. The exact program of study is mainly dependent on what has been studied prior to LINC 19-25. We can offer two accredited ASDAN courses: ASDAN Towards Independence and ASDAN Personal Progress.
For more information please click here.
Admission to LINC 19-25 is managed by the Local Authority admissions process and is not managed by Highfield Littleport.
Employer Encounters
We aim to give our learners as much experience of the workplace and different employers as possible to prepare them for adult life. Our students have visited farms, social firms, cafe's and sports centres to gain this experience. We have also had visitors in from health, the uniformed services and even Virgin Atlantic!
We would welcome employers from a broad range of career backgrounds to come into our school and lead an employer encounter session. This could involve;
- Giving a presentation about your job role and career path
- Hosting a question and answer session about your job role
- Setting pupils a task/challenge linked to your career sector
- Running a practical workshop based on skills needed for your job role
Workplace Visits
A workplace visit provides valuable experience for our pupils and gives them the opportunity to see different job roles in action. This could involve;
- Guided tour around your workplace
- Question and answer session about your job role
- Discussion about the work tasks and job roles within your workplace
Supporting Our School
If you feel that you are able to support our school by providing an employer encounter, workplace visit or you have any other ideas on how you could support our careers education programme, please contact Lyn Houghton, the school’s careers leader via email lyn.houghton@highfieldlittleport.org When planning an activity, we will provide you with further information about relevant needs and interests and we will support you to ensure the activity is appropriate, engaging and meaningful for our learners.