Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) & Careers

Careers

Careers Leads: Ruth Richardson & Kelvin Stephens 

Careers Advisor: Rachael Maybank  

Careers Governor: Janet Catto

Our careers leads can be contacted through the school office on 01543 452020 and through the email  postbox@oakwood.walsall.sch.uk
 

Gatsby benchmarks 

What is the Gatsby benchmarks? 

The eight Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for secondary school leaders, head teachers and career advisors that define what world class career provision in education looks like and provides clear guidance for organising the best possible careers education, information, advice and guidance at our school.  

https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/careers-leaders/gatsby-benchmarks/ 

The 8 Gatsby benchmarks are: 

1. A stable careers programme ​ 

2. Learning from careers and labour market information  ​ 

3. Addressing the needs of each student 

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers 

5. Encounters with employers and employees  

6. Experiences of workplaces  

7. Encounters with further and higher education 

8. Personal guidance 

Why are the Gatsby benchmarks important?  

The Gatsby benchmarks have a key role in: 

• underpinning the Department for Education guidance to schools on meeting their statutory responsibility for careers guidance 

• raising young people’s aspirations and promoting access to all career pathways 

• enabling all young people to develop the skills and outlook they need to achieve career wellbeing, including adaptability and resilience 

Careers at Oakwood

Enterprise and enrichment opportunities at Oakwood

What are enterprise opportunities and why are they important?

Enterprise gives students the unique opportunity to develop life skills, understand the costs and benefits of risk taking, communication skills and the important of collaboration. The role of education is to prepare pupils for the future and these are the skills the future will need.

Over the academic year we take part in a range of projects that provide entrepreneurial approach to learning (please see attached timetable below). The aim is for our pupils to develop entrepreneurship skills, creativity, costing, production and marketing, developing functional life skills. Also invaluable in developing team work, initiative, self-esteem, resilience, ICT, art and craft, DT skills, horticulture and a sense of achievement.

What are enrichment opportunities and why are they important?

The purpose of the enrichment curriculum is to provide a broad range of opportunities to learn and develop outside of the classroom. These opportunities foster professional skills such as resilience, active listening, confidence, self-esteem and teamwork.