Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) /
Careers And Guidance Department
Introduction
Careers Education and Guidance (CEG) is seen as an essential part of every students’ curriculum here at Lostock High School. All students have an entitlement to an appropriate programme of provision. To ensure that we are offering our students the best possible CEIAG we have achieved the Gold Award of the Inspiring IAG Award.
If parents would like to feedback on our career provision please contact our careers teams on: 0161 864 5700/careerstaff@lostock.trafford.sch.uk
Information on this page is for the attention of students, teachers, providers, employers, parents and carers.
PSHRE
Our pupils have weekly Personal, Social, Health, Relationship and Education classes from year 7 to year 11. In this course of study pupils will cover healthy relationships, health and wellbeing, financial capability and explore careers. More information will be covered here in the new academic year.
Careers And Guidance
In the current economic climate it is important that your child is given the best possible chance to find information on all the education and training post-16. At Lostock High School the first port of call for our students is the Careers Staff who work with all the local colleges and training providers to ensure your child is informed about all available choices when they leave us.
School work closely with our Careers Adviser, Peter Lovatt to give our students Independent Careers Guidance from Year 7 to 11 through one to one interviews, group work and drop-in sessions. Peter is in school on Tuesdays and works in the library classroom. This gives the students the opportunity to have a one-to-one careers interview with a Level 6 qualified and completely independent Careers Adviser.
Throughout each academic year we run a number of events and information evenings that serve to assist our students with the choices they need to make. We have Parents Evenings where post-16 colleges and work-based training providers are in attendance. As well as Options Evening, where parents/carers and students have the chance to talk to subject teachers, and careers team to discuss the option choices available to them.
Are you a local employer?
At Lostock High School we are always looking to increase our roster of employer contacts to support our careers programme of events. Employers / employees can get involved in mock interviews, careers days or offer a special talk or work shop. We are especially interested to hear from employers who are able to offer a workplace visit for a group of students - or a work experience opportunity. If you would like to support our careers programme, please contact our Careers Team on careerstaff@lostock.trafford.sch.uk
Providers Access
Providers Access Legislation is coming into place in January 2023. At Lostock High School, we will be increasing the amount of providers encounters our students have from Year 8 upwards to meet this new legislation. Providers will be invited to attend our careers events and engage in our careers programme overall – to meet with students directly and advise on pathways options including training, apprenticeships and technical education. We will enable encounters to take place during the school day with a range of Higher Education, Further Education, Sixth Form and Apprenticeship and Training Providers. Providers can contact the careers team directly on careerstaff@lostock.trafford.sch.uk with any queries.
Providers can read our access policy here: Provider Access Policy
Curriculum Mapping for Careers
Key Stage 3 (years 7 and 8)
In Key Stage 3, our students explore the 'Step into the NHS' programme and the Lostock Community. Trafford Housing Trust also meet with yr8's for a Speed Networking session to familiarise themselves with a variety of job roles. In this academic year (2021-2022) we have also been partnered with Hotel Indigo in Manchester who provided impactful workplace visit opportunities.
Year 9
During year 9, our students are encouraged to explore their options for study at GCSE - we relate this where applicable to future possible careers options and Labour Market Information (for more details on LMI please see below). Students attend careers talks within assembly and during class time from a variety of sectors and employers.
Year 10
During year 10, our students have the opportunity to undertake work experience and small groups of students go out on workplace visit days with our Careers Coordinator. During academic year 2021-2022 our students visited Trafford Housing Trust over 3 seperate opportunities covering Housing, Care and Construction. We concentrate on transferable skills for the working world and encourage our students to research and plan for life after Lostock. Students also attend college taster days at Trafford College Group, Manchester College and Salford City College on a rotation. They also receive college talks from all three colleges, on site at Lostock.
Year 11
In the final year of school we concentrate on finalising options for colleges and / or apprenticeship and trainee providers - ensuring that every pupil has a secure destination for post 16 further study. Our Careers Advisor (Jeni Haworth from Trafford Connexions) meets with all students to give 1:1 personal guidance on all aspects of their post 16 choices - so that our students can make informed choices on their next steps. Students who need additional support, for example our students with an EHCP, will receive additional 1:1 support from our Careers Advisor.
Attendance at Careers Events
We hold attendance records of careers events and employer encounters on Arbor and also use the careers planning tool Compass+ to map out our careers programme. Pupils or parents / carers can request a copy of their individual attendance record at any time by emailing our Careers Coordinator with the request on careerstaff@lostock.trafford.sch.uk . Our pupils use the GMACS website and the careers platform Xello to research careers, skills, build a CV and post 16 opportunities including institutions for further study, apprenticeships and trainee providers. On this platform they have the responsibility to add their employer encounters and reflect on them. We encourage our parent and carer community to also explore the GMACS website with Xello log in at home to support their child(ren) with their careers research
Labour Market Information
Our students explore LMI as part of their careers units within PSHE. We also explore LMI resources during form time and some assemblies with support from special guest speakers. At home, you can explore Greater Manchester Labour Market Information using these poster links below. LMI provides useful insight into the local economy, in particular growth sectors - the skills that are needed and in demand, and expected salaries among other points. An additional 10 resource poster links will be added here in Autumn 2022 to reflect the GM Economy.
Accounting, Finance, and Law Sector LMI Construction LMI Creative Cultural LMI
Useful Links
There are many careers related booklets and prospectuses in the library classroom. Students are welcome to visit and explore these resources during their free time and can also talk to the Careers Advisor Jeni Haworth every Thursday lunchtime. Mrs Childs is also available in the school library every lunchtime and after school every day until 4pm.
In the Year 11 Form Classrooms, there is information about College Open events, apprenticeship vacancies as well as general careers information. At home, we encourage our students and parents / carers to explore the websites below - for researching post 16 options.
110 Job Interview Tips. How to do Well in an Interview
