Careers Programme Information

Swiss Cottage School Careers Programme

Aims & Vision

We aim to ensure a high quality of vocational and careers education for young people with special educational needs, to be delivered in a meaningful and appropriate way for their needs and circumstances.

Our vision is to increase the opportunities our students have of finding quality, paid employment in later life.

Through person centred planning with the Education, Health & Care plans at the centre, we support students to articulate their aspirations for adult life, including for many their aspiration to work.

Strands of Careers Education at Swiss Cottage

In order to support students to achieve their aspirations, careers education at Swiss Cottage School consists of the following strands:

Vocational Education lessons to support students to identify their skills, interests and talents. Including CV writing, interview techniques and applications.
Work Related Learning opportunities offering meaningful vocational experience on site.
A varied programme of Social Enterprise Activities
Off Site Work Experience at local businesses and charities, including job coaching to support students to excel at these placements
Support, including from external agencies, with job coaching and planning next steps once leaving school, including option of applying for a Project Search Internship at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Experiential work education for learners with needs which would make paid employment more challenging.
Financial literacy and budgeting, where appropriate for students. Swiss Cottage school is a Young Money Centre of Excellence for Financial Education.

Careers Education Summary

Key Stage 3	Careers Education Focus
Year 7 & 8	Classroom Lessons on Skills & Interests Roleplay of work related activities Joining with and observing older learners carrying out vocational activities in school
Year 9	Education, Health & Care Plan Transition Review Working together with students and families to identify aspirations and goals for the future
Key Stage 4	Careers Education Focus
Year 10	Classroom Lessons on Skills & Interests. Functional Skills lessons understanding what jobs are for and introducing concepts of making money and budgeting where appropriate. Lessons focused on understanding and writing CV’s, applying for jobs, interview practice and appropriate behaviour. On site work related learning activities such as mail and fruit deliveries around school
Year 11	First off site work experience placement in local business or charity. Continued classroom and on site work focusing on CV’s, applications, interviews and behaviour where appropriate. Visits to Skills and Employment Fairs. Education, Health & Care Plan Transition Review Working together with students and families to identify aspirations and goals for the future. Supporting students with transition to mainstream college for those who choose to do so.
Key Stage 5	Careers Education Focus
Year 12	Increase in on site work related learning activities to include Magic Breakfast Service, Venture Café food services, Laundry service, Data Entry and Filing for school offices. Support from Camden Ability to develop understanding on processes involved in searching for and finding a job. Including developing CV’s, interview techniques and applications, where appropriate. Introduction to vocational experience through the EmployMEnt Pathway.
Year 13	Continued participation in full range of on-site work related learning activities including through the EmployMEnt Pathway. Second Off-Site work experience placement in local business or charity. Job Coaching with support from The Right Place throughout work experience placements. Continued classroom and on site work focusing on CV’s, applications, interviews and behaviour where appropriate. With support from Camden Ability. Visits to Skills and Employment Fairs. First opportunity for students to apply for Vocational Internships at Project Search.
Year 14	Continued participation in full range of on-site work related learning activities including daily on-site work through the EmployMEnt Pathway. Third and final Off-Site work experience placement in local business or charity. Job Coaching with support from The Right Place throughout work experience placements. Continued classroom and on site work focusing on CV’s, applications, interviews and behaviour where appropriate. With support from Camden Ability. Second opportunity for students to apply for Vocational Internships at Project Search. Visits to Skills and Employment Fairs. Education, Health & Care Plan Transition Review Working together with students and families to identify aspirations and goals for the future through a Vocational Profile. Supporting students with transition from school to appropriate further education

External Partners and Supporting Agencies

In order to provide quality careers education, Swiss Cottage works with a range of external agencies, businesses and charities, including:

Camden Ability
The Right Place
Young Money
Santander
Project Search
Action for Kids
Shelter
Skip Garden
Kentish Town City Farm.

On site Work Related Learning Opportunities

EmployMEnt Pathway

The Swiss Cottage School (SCS) EmployMEnt Pathway vision is to provide a meaningful Work Experience and Supported Internship pathway for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in SCS’s Post-16 department. Pathways include Card & Design, Event Hosts and General Store. Click here for more information.

Magic Breakfast

Every day in school a team of Post 16 pupils prepare and serve breakfast to younger pupils. They set up for the service, prepare and serve bagels, cereal and juice. Pupils are also responsible for cleaning and tidying up after breakfast service.

Those working at Magic Breakfast are allocated roles dependent on their abilities, needs and interests. The aim is to maximise independence at each role they have been allocated.

The Salon

Our Post 16 department is equipped with a hair salon, including wash basins, hair washing, drying and brushing equipment. Twice a week a small group of pupils offer salon services to staff and other pupils in the school.

Social Enterprise

Post 16 pupils carry out a wide range of Social Enterprise activities, raising money for the School Charity and for class trips. Once every half term there is a stall run by pupils at a local supermarket, selling seasonal craft items they have made to members of the public.

Jobs Around School

There are a range of other jobs around school which are carried out each week by Post 16 pupils, including fruit and cereal delivery to all classes, office tasks such as shredding, filing and data entry.

Careers Leader: Matthew Maguire

admin@swisscottage.camden.sch.uk

02078618080