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 |
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Year 9 |
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Key Stage 4 |
Careers Education Focus |
Year 10 |
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Year 11 |
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Key Stage 5 |
Careers Education Focus |
Year 12
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Year 13 |
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Year 14 |
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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