Career-related learning
Work related learning at Heron Academy is a journey for all pupils from Year 7 to Year 14. It is about broadening pupils’ horizons, challenging stereotypes and discrimination and helping pupils to develop the skills and sense of self that will enable them to reach their full potential.
The Gatsby Benchmarks were developed on behalf of the Gatsby Foundation by Sir John Holman. They define what world class careers provision in education looks like and provide a clear framework for organising the careers provision at schools and colleges.
The 8 Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance are:
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A stable careers programme
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Learning from career and labour market information
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Addressing the needs of each pupil
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Linking curriculum learning to careers
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Encounters with employers and employees
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Experiences of workplaces
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Encounters with further and higher education
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Personal guidance
Curriculum
Our careers programme begins in Year 7, and aims to help our pupils understand and make informed choices about what they would like to do when they leave school and access further education or the community.
Work experience
Depending on their next steps after Heron, pupils can have at least two work experience placements, either school or community-based.
Over time our dedicated team have formed strong links with local employers, and consistently source external work placements for our pupils. The current list of external placements include:
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Volunteering at a bookshop
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Delivering goods to our local food bank
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Volunteering at Get Rid of and Donate
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Oasis Nature Garden
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West Norwood Swimming
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Shopping for supplies for school
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Grove adventure playground
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Lunch in a restaurant
Due to the complex needs of some of our pupils we are able to support a range of school-based work experience placements. Our current list of internal placements include:
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Working at the Heron Café & Heron Hotel
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Sewing
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Office assistant
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Caretaker assistant
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Food preparation
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Car wash
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Beauty Salon
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