Careers Curriculum

Our goal at Highshore is that as many as of our young people possible obtain employment in the future.

We aim for students to experience and participate in the world of work as fully as possible. We run both internal and external work experience programmes, visits to work places and employability workshops from organisations. This gives our students the chance to focus on their independence, communication and self-help skills, better enabling them to seek employment upon leaving school.

Please click here for the Highshore Careers Curriculum Plan

Work Experience: This could be in a long or short term capacity. Some students go to work experience one day a week (which could be a few hours) or a week’s work experience Monday- Friday. We work with employers to run a flexible programmes to suit both the organisation and student needs.

Volunteering: If your organisation would like to contribute in other ways, we have corporate responsibility teams come in to help at school we also have regular classroom or holiday programme volunteers.

Award Winning Provision

In June 2017, Highshore won the Southwark Schools Excellence Award for Innovation & Collaboration for our Work Experience Pathways.

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Current Employers and Training Providers

Previous Employers

These employers have assisted students by giving them work experience during the last two years. Click for link to website

• The View From The Shard
• Department for Education with DS Workfit
• Ministry of Justice with DS Workfit
• Department of Works & Pensions
• South London Special League
• Thrive
• Eversheds
• South London Gallery
• Dulwich Library
• Kingswood Library
• Sainsburys – East Dulwich
• Tescos – Old Kent Road
• Royal Mail Sorting Office – Peckham
• Café 178
• Unity Café
• Nell Gwynn Nursery
• St Johns Nursery
• Bacon College – Sports Department

 

Feedback From Employers

  This whole process is an excellent way of helping two organisations combine talents and needs – Steve Symmonds, Manager Dulwich Mind Shop

 

  I only have positive things to say about our relationship with Highshore and Bradley’s time with us. Having him work with us is such a great experience for all involved. Bradley is a great kid who not only does a fantastic job but has helped the whole team improve as a unit – Andre Bienkowski, Just Hospitality

 

Vicky has made excellent progress this year she is developing her own style, and is thinking ahead to future projects she would like to undertake – David Tootil, Southbank Mosaics

 

Work Related Learning

Work Visits: Groups of students may visit businesses or organisations on trips to get a greater understanding of the work of work.

Enterprise stalls or selling opportunities: Sixth form students have one day a week allocated to enterprise education where they make products to sell. With the profits, enterprise teams aim to fund a residential at the end of the year.

Internal Placements

Internal work placements are an opportunity for pupils to develop their work skills and independence before moving to external work placements. they work on a weekly rota and develop their skills over a school term. Whole school internal roles include:

Staff & Seasonal Post Duty: Pupils collect, sort a deliver staff post to pigeonholes and seasonal cards to their classmates

Canteen Duty: Pupils wrap cutlery, arrange jugs an cups on tables, hand out cutlery, serve from the salad bar and help pupils at lunchtime

School Library Duty: Pupils take the mobile library trolley around the school, checking pupils books in and out.

For our Key Stage 5 pupils that have a one day a week placement but perhaps aren’t yet ready for an external placement, specialist roles have been developed. Pupils follow a personalised, weekly routine and checklist. This helps as a reminder of their responsibilities and is a way to help them gain independence in their role. These include:

• Stock and Resources Assistant : Pupils check and replenish stock of beverages and classroom resources across the school. They also prepare and make resources for teachers for example printing, laminating or ICT presentations.
• Classroom Assistant: Pupils work in classroom to support other pupils, prepare the classroom for lessons, pack away equipment. Some pupils specialise in a subject area that they are interested in e.g. PE or work in different classes where support is required

Pre Work Skills Club

For pupils that find a working environment stressful or need to master specific tasks for our internal placements, pupils practice at a Pre-Work Skills lunch time club with a view to progress to an internal placement when they are ready.

 

 

Alfie - Alix Partners

In 2015 Alfie started a weekly work experience placement with corporate restructuring firm Alix Partners where he worked with the Facilities team to carry out tasks such as measuring office temperatures, replenishing office stock and setting up meeting rooms for clients.

The placement was set up by the Down Syndrome Association’s WorkFit programme, and overseen in partnership with Highshore.

Alfie continued to progress in his role throughout his time at Highshore and became a real asset to the Alix Partner team.

In 2016 he got the opportunity to appear on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show where he talked about his work.

Since leaving Highshore Alfie has moved on to a college provision which he attend 3 days a week. Because of his hard work and the support of the DSA and Highshore he has secured paid employment for 2 days a week with Alix partners.

Josiah- Just Hospitality

In October 2016, Josiah started a work experience placement in the catering kitchens at Just Hospitality, Bermondsey. He travelled and worked fully independently at the placement and quickly became part of the team.

As his time at Highshore was coming to an end Josiah had decided that he would like to pursue  a college course in Catering at Lewisham College which he had mention to the Just Hospitality team.

Managing director of Just Hospitality, Dean Kennett, had recognised Josiah’s skills and enthusiasm which lead to Josiah being offered a paid day of work while he studied at college

 

Employment and Transitions

Here we will put details of supported employment providers, colleges, Individual Supported Placements and general careers information on for students and parents.

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  Toucan Employment

  Toucan Employment is a not-for-profit charity organisation who support people with learning difficulties/disabilities in Southwark, Lambeth, Brent and Lewisham.

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  Care Trade

  Care Trade run “The Autism Project” a supported employment programme for young people on the autistic spectrum

  Now open for applications for Sept 2020 – Click to view Information Video 

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  Roots and Shoots

   Roots and Shoots deliver Retail Skills and Horticulture Skills. Within a Personal, Social Development (PSD) strand they deliver Employability and Personal Development all available at Award, Certificate or Diploma level.

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  Lewisham College

  Highshore has a link course for some 6th form students at Lewisham College who offer supported learning courses. 

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  Orchard Hill College

  Orchard Hill College programmes are designed for students over the age of 16 with a range of special needs. Offering social and vocational opportunities for students in the heart of their communities.

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  Work Fit

  WorkFit is the Down’s Syndrome Association’s employment programmme which brings together employers and jobseekers who have Down’s syndrome

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  Local Offer

  There are a number of opportunities available to help you secure your journey to employment and a successful career. This page contains information and advice on employment options including Traineeships and Apprenticeships, employment advice and rights, how to prepare for an interview and so much more!