CURRICULUM
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed with career pathways in health, social care and science in mind. Students study mandatory and optional subjects which support these pathways.
All of our students take part in Employer Projects one afternoon a week and these projects help them to find out more about employment opportunities as well as developing the skills that employers want to see in their future recruits.
Our curriculum is not restrictive however and whilst most of our students pursue careers in our specialism some have gone on to study law, engineering, architecture and other fields where the skills they have learnt are transferable.
Careers advice and support
Our students benefit from extensive careers advice from staff, practicing professionals and qualified careers advisers. This supports them on their journey through education and into the world of work, higher education, apprenticeship or specialist training.
During the year we are visited by a range of people who work in the health sector such as midwives, pharmacists, doctors, researchers, paramedics and occupational therapists. Students are able to meet, listen to and ask questions of these visitors.
All students have a one to one meeting with a member of the leadership team to discuss their post 16 options and some students will also meet with a personal advisor from Connexions.
In the sixth form students are guided carefully through their UCAS applications and will have a number of meetings with the sixth form careers lead.
We hold a careers fair once a year for students and their parents so that they can have meaningful conversations with a range of professions from colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers.
For more information, contact Mrs Kayleigh Steed, by telephone on 0121 828 1123 or by emailing the UTC at ksteed@sbu.shirelandcat.net
Useful links for students and parents
- Careerometer - Use Careerometer to compare different jobs and salaries
- My Choices - Your guide to further education
- National Careers Service - Free impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market
- Connexions Sandwell - Independent impartial careers advice
- National Apprenticeship Service -
Employer Projects
All of our students take part in Employer Projects throughout the academic year.
These projects are launched by one of our employer partners and, working in small groups, students are challenged to solve problems, discover more about the types of work the employers are involved in and practise important employability skills such as team work, making presentations, leadership and research skills.
At the end of each project we hold a showcase event where partners, parents and other stakeholders visit the students and find out about what each group has achieved.
Examples of the projects’ focus include, health care values, learning disabilities, antibiotic awareness and health screening, looking after your mental health, emergency services and providing an inclusive health service in a multicultural, multi-faith society.
Work Experience
All students spend at least one week in the workplace on work experience.
In year 10 and year 12 work experience week is at the end of June.
Some students will take further opportunities during the holidays to attend specialist placements, usually in hospital settings. This is crucial for those who want to apply to study medicine at university.
Students on the foundation programme in the sixth form attend a work placement one day a week as part of the curriculum.
Below is an extract of a statement written by one of our year 12 students about her summer placement in a hospital:
“For the first week I was placed in Theatre 1 (Neurology). I observed several removals of brain tumours and was talked through the operations by the many surgeons involved. The most interesting case was the ‘mid facial mandibular advancement with a red frame.’ It was the first one to ever be performed in the UK after around 5 surgeries in America. It was a gruesome surgery which involved jaws being broken and manipulated back into place, not one for the light-hearted. In week two I was placed in Theatre 2/ Hybrid (cardiac, emergencies and dental). The one case that really sticks out was during an emergency case. A patient came in with symptoms that could not be placed to one condition, it was suggested that TB could be a cause. During the panic, I learnt about the rise of TB cases and why there is an upward trend of children coming in with TB.”
careers policy
Click here for Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust Careers Policy
Click here for Shireland Collegiate Academy provider access statement
