Working Life

PREPARING FOR WORKING LIFE

Progress File
When students enter Heston Community School in September, they will begin the process of recording their achievement. This process will continue throughout their school life. The Progress File is a folder containing a summary of personal targets and achievements which can be taken into post-16 education and beyond into Further and Higher Education and employment to support future progress. The principles underlying this process are to:

• Recognise achievement so that the learning and experience gained by each student can be identified and valued by the individuals themselves, teachers, peers, parents, employers and other interested parties.
• Motivate and aid personal development so that students can more easily recognise and evaluate their own achievements, learning gaps and opportunities and thus being able to plan for the future.
• Act as a record so that those leaving school or making any other transition have a portfolio of evidence and a useable and acceptable summary of their achievements which can provide information to others and can be used as a basis for further development.

Careers Education and Guidance
Careers Education and Guidance forms part of the curriculum for all students and is delivered through our SPACE Programme. All students have access to a Careers Library with associated facilities and dedicated computer software.

Students receive full guidance on the choices they can make regarding Further and Higher Education, training or job seeking. The work of staff at the School is supplemented by visits from a Personal Adviser from Connexions who interviews and advises students in order to ensure an informed choice of appropriate career paths.

Work Experience
All Year 11 students take part in a Work Experience Programme. This is also available as part of some Sixth Form courses. Work Experience is designed to improve students' understanding of the World of Work and to give them experience of working with adults other than their teachers. Students may be interviewed prior to joining a placement and will receive a report on completion of their work experience programme.

Parents should note that there are legal restrictions and Health and Safety requirements pertaining to the type of work students may do and the School will limit student choice in order to ensure that these requirements are met.