Personal, Social Education & Careers

Introduction

St Martin’s delivers a comprehensive, effective careers programme and continues to be the proud holders of the prestigious ‘Careers Wales Mark for continuous improvement’ awarded by Careers Wales, the national careers service in Wales. Careers education and guidance at St Martin’s is mainly delivered through form presentations and discussions shared with forms by their tutors; google classrooms set up to cover RSE through guidance by staff in Science Faculty and the school nurse; via designated assemblies; via Enterprise and Employability project taught within KS4 and KS5 WBQ lessons; and more recently during authentic learning opportunities within 6 calendered ‘stand down days’. all of which is based on the Careers and the World of Work framework for 11-19 year olds in Wales.

Program of study:

St. Martin’s aim is to prepare learners to be personally and socially effective by providing learning experiences in which they can develop and apply skills, explore personal attitudes and values, and acquire appropriate knowledge and understanding. To enhance the learning experience, we collaborate with a wide range of outside agencies and charities.

Careers and the World of Work Framework for 11-19 year olds in Wales instils:

Skills across the curriculum: Developing thinking; communication; ICT and number

Learning across the curriculum: Curriculum Cymraeg (7-14) and Wales, Europe and the World (14-19); Personal and social education; develop awareness of careers and world of work

The framework itself is divided into three elements:

Attitudes and values
Skills
Range

At KS4 pupils also have two dedicated mornings per week during form time to follow an innovative, flexible BTEC qualification in Personal Social Development known as SWEET.

SWEET modules

Personal Identity
Managing relationships
Healthy Living
Moving Forward
Money Matters
Enterprise and Employability
Global Citizenship
Community

Additionally, Students have the opportunity to attend Career Conventions, University visits, STEM days, visits to Industry. The program also includes visits from experienced professionals who will advise students on a variety of career related topics. For example: career paths, interview techniques, entrepreneurial skills, apprenticeships to name but a few.

Careers Wales

The school has a designated Careers Wales, Careers Adviser, a Registered Professional Member of the Careers Development Institute. They offer guidance and help our pupils make decisions about their education, training and future jobs and careers. This is delivered through group sessions and one to one interviews whereby students are provided with a personalised career plan that focuses on enabling our learners to make effective and sustainable decisions.

SCHOOL CAREERS ADVISER - Chris Evans and Liz Poulsom
Availability - Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week. Parent Consultation day, Option Evenings and results days.
Email chris.evans@careerswales.gov.uk and liz.poulsom@careerswales.gov.uk
Careers Wales on 0800 028 48 44 when not available in school.

Useful Websites