A specialist SEN school for secondary aged boys with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs

At LWS Academy, we recognise the importance of preparing students for life beyond Year 11. Our careers provision has the Academy’s ethos at its heart: opportunity, encourage, achieve.

Opportunity

All students in Year 9, 10 and 11 will have the opportunity to meet regularly with a careers advisor. This can be either 1:1 or within a small group. Here, they will be able to find out more about their chosen industry and routes into employment, or spend time working with specialist staff exploring their options should they be unsure about what to do after leaving school. Students also have the opportunity to experience working life in their chosen industry with a 5 day work experience placement within their local community.

Encourage

Staff work with parents/carers to support and encourage students into further education, employment or training. We strive to work with the support of parents/carers in encouraging students to engage with the careers provision and the opportunities available to enable them to make informed decisions relating to career opportunities. Parents are encouraged to support students with college open events, interviews and other relevant careers opportunities such as work experience interviews.

Achieve

We recognise that moving on from secondary education is a difficult time for students with SEND, particularly SEMH. Here at LWS Academy, students have the chance to attend a local college, or suitable alternative provider placement from Year 10 onwards, which can form part of their personalised timetable. Staff work hard to ensure students experience day to day college life, as well as the having the chance to achieve external accreditation linked to the course. This contributes to students achieving success in different learning environments, as well as helping to alleviate anxieties related to the transition process. In conjunction with a work experience placement, this can improve self confidence, pride and self worth – all key qualities for navigating the workplace.

Careers provision at LWS Academy comprises a school based curriculum, alternative provision and 1-1 input:

In addition, we are supported by Trust colleagues and have access to the GFM Careers Hub, a great website with lots of resources to support choice. The Careers Hub can be found here.

We will measure the effectiveness and success in a variety of ways:

  • Student and parent/carer voice – through regular home school communication but also via the EHCP process
  • Students securing appropriate post 16 provision places linked to their desired destination – this may be supported internships, traineeships, apprenticeships, college or other suitable training
  • Ofsted judgement of careers provision on offer
  • By ensuring the Gatsby Benchmarks are met – we conduct annual assessments using the Compass tool.

We aim to work together with parents and carers to ensure that students have the best possible preparation for their future destinations – whatever they aspire to! Should you wish to find out more about how we support students, please contact:

A copy of our Provider Access Policy can be found here.

Date of next review of this information: September 2023

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Contact Info
  • LWS Academy, Montefiore Drive, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, SO31 7NL
  • 01489 582684
  • enquiries@lws.gfmat.org

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