Our Careers Programme
At Les Quennevais School, our careers programme is designed to help every student develop the knowledge, skills, experience and confidence they need to make informed decisions about their future.
A Five-Year Careers Journey
Our five-year Careers Roadmap, shown below, provides a structured programme from Year 7 through to Year 11. As students progress through the school, they encounter a broad range of careers, employers, pathways and opportunities, helping them understand the choices available to them and how these connect to their own interests and aspirations.
Throughout the five years, students participate in a varied programme of careers events, employer encounters, workshops and experiences. These provide opportunities to meet people working across different industries and to understand the qualifications, skills and personal attributes required for different careers.
Students also participate in dedicated off-timetable careers days. These allow them to explore areas of employment in greater depth and consider not only the specific role they might be interested in, but also the type and style of work that would suit them. Students are encouraged to think about different working environments, patterns of work, responsibilities and the skills required to succeed.
Work Experience – Project Trident
In Year 10, students undertake two weeks of work experience through Project Trident. This is an important part of our careers programme, giving students first-hand experience of the workplace.
During their placement, students have the opportunity to experience the expectations and routines of working life, develop their employability skills and gain a better understanding of a particular career or employment sector. Just as importantly, work experience can help students identify what they enjoy and what they might look for in their future employment.
Careers Through PSHE
Careers education also forms an important part of our PSHE curriculum. Students explore topics that will prepare them for a changing world of work, including soft skills, employability, decision-making and the ways in which the workplace may change in the future.
Students are encouraged to consider how developments such as new technology, automation and changing working practices may affect future careers and the skills that employers will value.
Developing the Skills Employers Need
Through our work with local employers, the school has identified a number of key soft skills that young people can sometimes lack when they first enter the workplace.
Our careers programme therefore places a strong emphasis on developing skills such as communication, teamwork, resilience, problem-solving, initiative, organisation, adaptability and leadership. Students are encouraged to recognise where they already demonstrate these skills and to identify opportunities to develop them further.
This helps students understand that employers are interested not only in qualifications and technical knowledge, but also in how effectively an individual can communicate, collaborate, solve problems and respond to new situations.
Our Careers Website and Tutor Programme
The school has developed its own dedicated careers website, providing students with information and resources that are relevant to them and the opportunities available locally and beyond.
The website is used as part of our tutor-time careers programme, giving students regular opportunities to explore different sectors, investigate career pathways and consider their next steps.
By combining tutor activities, PSHE, employer encounters, careers events, off-timetable experiences and work experience, we aim to make careers education an ongoing part of school life rather than a single event or decision point.
Our aim is that by the time students leave Les Quennevais School, they have a greater understanding of themselves, the world of work and the opportunities available to them, enabling them to make confident and informed choices about further education, apprenticeships, training and employment.
