Futures & Careers - College
Careers Team
Our careers team at David Lewis College consists of our Careers Leader Kirsty Stanley Careers and pathway manager.
If you would like to get in touch with our Careers Leader, you can contact them on kirsty.stanley@davidlewis.org.uk or by calling school number 01565640031
David Lewis Careers programme will support students to plan and manage their careers and their individualised destinations to meet their needs effectively, ensuring progression which is both meaningful and aspirational. It will promote equality of opportunity, embrace diversity, safeguarding and challenge stereotypes.
Careers Programme – coming soon
Careers Policy – Careers-Policy-College
Strategic plan – coming soon
Educator’s information
Teachers
Teachers can find all of the information for how to deliver careers on the H drive within the school system.
Labour Market Information
National Careers Service – a comprehensive careers website with job profiles, outlining: the skills required, main tasks, pay levels and career prospects for hundreds of different jobs. In addition, valuable guidance on the different stages involved in getting a job.
Cheshire and Warrington Job Opportunities Portal – a portal with a range of information on local labour market information, including jobs, apprenticeships, and training providers
My Path Careers Information about a wide variety of interesting careers with job profiles and videos
Post 16 Pathways
David Lewis Day Opportunities provides an extensive range of innovative, person centred leisure, vocational and work based activities, in a variety of settings to adults with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Epilepsy and other complex needs.
Pure Innovations Local in Manchester College for students with disabilities or health related issues, to live a fulfilling life with a sense of purpose and belonging.
UCAS – a very helpful website for students thinking of applying to higher education. Also contains valuable information on different options, including apprenticeships.
Ask Apprenticeships Information about different types of apprenticeships in a variety of sectors.
Cheshire College South and West Local college with campuses in Crewe, Chester, and Ellesmere Port offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses.
Warrington Royal Vale College Local college in Warrington offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses.
Coleg Cambria Local college in Wrexham offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses.
Reaseheath College Local land-based college in Nantwich offering T Levels, A Levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses.
Work Experience and Volunteering Opportunities
Cheshire East Volunteering Hub Information on volunteering opportunities in the local area
Cheshire West Volunteering Action Information on volunteering opportunities in the local area
Warrington Voluntary Action Information on volunteering opportunities in the local area
Springpod Free virtual online work experience
Speakers for Schools Free virtual online work experience
Parents/Carers Information
Information for Parents and Carers
Our Careers Program
At David Lewis, we aim to ensure the best possible outcomes for all of our students. We work proactively with the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Pledge to build a careers program that empowers our young people to develop skills and confidence in their future, and informs them about relevant careers, pathways and opportunities that work for them.
Our careers program is monitored termly against the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks (shown below). It is evaluated annually and updated using feedback from student’s views, parents/carers feedback in EHCP reviews, staff observations and lesson evaluations, and employer’s forums and our destinations data. We also gain feedback after specific events to ensure they have met our aims and to monitor impact.
The Gatsby Benchmarks:
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from careers and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each student
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
Aims
The main aims of our career program as a College are:
- For all students to achieve their true potential whilst being fully prepared for their transition into the wider world.
- To inspire young people into trying new things through offering vast opportunities to develop their skill set in the wider community
- To provide relevant and practical careers guidance to help our students to have the best opportunity for success in their future whether that is through paid work, volunteering or accessing supported living.
If parents or carers would like more information about our careers program, you can read our full careers program here (tbc) or contact Hannah Phillips for more information.
Provider Access
David Lewis believes in giving Further Education Colleges, Sixth Forms, Higher Education, apprentice training providers, supported internships and day services the opportunity to talk to pupils at the school. In line with the Baker Clause, we will have two opportunities for students to meet with different providers at each key stage of their education. Please use the following link to see our Provider Access Policy (tbc).
Destinations Data
At David Lewis we use the destinations of our students after they leave us to evaluate the effectiveness of our careers program. You can find more information about what our students do after leaving David Lewis School here (tbc).
Information for Students
Overview of Events
If you are a student at David Lewis college, here is an overview of what you will do each year throughout your time with us:
Year 1
Ongoing | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term |
|---|---|---|---|
EHCP reviews PSHE Access a range of vocational learning opportunities in preparation for voluntary/ supported employment, by developing work skills during internal work experience placements at David Lewis | Parent/carer meeting Careers guest speaker | Parent/carer meeting National careers week Group meeting with careers connect Careers/further education fair | Parent/carer meeting Careers market place event Transition opportunities Celebration day |
Year 2
Ongoing | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term |
|---|---|---|---|
EHCP reviews PSHE Access a range of vocational learning opportunities in preparation for voluntary/ supported employment, by developing work skills during person centred external work placements in the wider community. | Parent/carer meeting Careers guest speaker | Parent/carer meeting National careers week Group meeting with careers connect Careers/further education fair | Parent/carer meeting Careers market place event Transition opportunities Celebration day |
Year 3
Ongoing | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term |
|---|---|---|---|
EHCP reviews PSHE Access a range of vocational learning opportunities in preparation for voluntary/ supported employment, by developing work skills during person centred external work placements in their local community. | Parent/carer meeting Careers guest speaker | Parent/carer meeting National careers week Group meeting with careers connect Careers/further education fair | Parent/carer meeting Careers market place event Transition opportunities Celebration day |
If you would like some more support or information regarding your future careers, please either get in touch with your form tutor or Kirsty Stanley to arrange an interview.
Employers Information
Employers – Get involved
If you are a local employer or business who would like to find out more about how you can support David Lewis or any of the events mentioned above, please contact Kirsty Stanley to get in touch.
We have a wonderful team who we currently work with to support our students through their work experience including Macclesfield College, Kings School, JW Lees brewery, Tatton Farm, Higher Farm and many more. We would love to continue to expand our work with employers to give our students the best chance of success in their future.
