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Case Studies

Careers Programme

This programme is designed for young adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN), typically aged 19–22.  It focuses on the four key Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) pathways: Employment, Independent Living, Community Inclusion, and Health. The aim is to build realistic work-related goals, independence, and readiness for adult life.

The programme will be delivered through a collaborative approach involving a range of key professionals and partners. These include the Careers Lead, who will oversee the strategic direction and coordination of activities; tutors, who will provide ongoing guidance and support; job coaches, who will assist learners in developing employability skills within the work placement; and Curriculum Lead, who will ensure that the programme aligns with each learner’s individual needs and long-term goals.

In addition, learners will benefit from direct engagement with employers to gain real-world insights, as well as personalised guidance from our external Career’s Adviser, Lynsey Hackett.

Careers Programme Overview

View the Careers Programme Overview

The purpose of the programme is to prepare learners for adulthood through careers education, guidance, and real-life experiences. This means equipping each learner with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to make informed choices about their future. The programme recognises that every learner is unique, so it provides personalised support that reflects individual aspirations, abilities, and needs. Through a combination of structured careers education, one-to-one guidance, and meaningful encounters with the world of work, learners are supported to explore a range of post-education options, including further education, supported internships, apprenticeships, and employment. The aim is to promote independence, raise aspirations, and ensure that learners are fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities of adult life, including participation in the community and the workplace.

The following provides a summary of how we aim to meet each of the Gatsby Benchmarks to deliver a stable, comprehensive, and meaningful careers programme for our learners.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme

    Gatsby Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme

    At Trinity Specialist College, we deliver a structured, inclusive careers programme that supports every learner throughout their journey. Led by a dedicated Careers Leader, the programme is regularly reviewed with input from learners, staff, parents, and external partners to ensure it remains relevant and person-centred. Careers education is embedded across the curriculum and closely aligned with EHCP outcomes, focusing on employment, independence, and community participation. Regular evaluations using learner feedback, destination data, and the Compass Toolkit ensure the programme evolves in line with national guidance and learners’ aspirations.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information (LMI)

    Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information (LMI)

    We provide accessible LMI sessions using visuals, videos, and role-play to help learners understand career options and labour market trends. Regular careers newsletters and parent workshops to keep families informed and involved. Additionally, learners benefit from real-life case studies and insights from local employers, giving them practical knowledge about various industries and job opportunities in their area. This approach ensures learners receive clear, relevant information to make informed decisions about their futures.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

    Gatsby Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

    We personalise careers support through individual plans linked to EHCPs, guided by one-page profiles. Activities are designed to suit each learner’s goals and abilities, with progress monitored using Databridge software, which allows us to set termly targets linked to long-term objectives and compile evidence within an employability portfolio.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

    Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

    We ensure that all curriculum learning is directly connected to real-world career opportunities to make education meaningful and motivating for our learners. Vocational activities such as catering, horticulture, and retail provide practical, hands-on experience that builds job-specific skills and confidence. Functional skills in maths and English are taught through work-related contexts, for example, handling money, measuring ingredients, or reading timetables to demonstrate their everyday importance in employment.

    Throughout the year, careers-themed projects and lessons are embedded into various subjects, helping learners understand different job roles, workplace expectations, and career pathways.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

    Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

    We work with a range of inclusive employers who visit the setting to share insights into their roles, workplaces, and career pathways, helping learners understand the variety of options available to them. Adapted mock interviews are a key feature of our programme, provide learners with the opportunity to practice interview skills in a supported environment, using communication aids and simplified language where needed.

    College enterprise activities are integrated into the curriculum, allowing learners to plan and run their own projects with support from staff and input from employer partners. These experiences are carefully planned to be accessible, engaging, and aligned with each learner’s needs and aspirations, forming a key part of our structured and inclusive approach to careers education.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces

    Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces

    We provide learners with taster days and work experiences within a variety of real workplace environments. Internally, learners take on roles such as reception and catering, gaining hands-on experience in professional environments. Externally, we offer placements with job coaching to support skill development and confidence in real-world settings. We also partner with employers to provide supported internships, helping learners transition smoothly into the workforce.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education

    Gatsby Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education

    We work collaboratively with Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) and other local education providers to ensure learners have meaningful encounters with alternative further and higher education. This includes inclusive taster days and college visits, accessible careers fairs with quiet spaces, and talks from a range of education and training providers. We also offer travel training to support learners with their independence and informed decision-making.

  • Gatsby Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance

    Gatsby Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance

    As all our learners have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), we place strong emphasis on regularly reviewing their long-term goals and aspirations to ensure our careers programme is personalised, meaningful, and aligned with their future ambitions. Additionally, personalised careers guidance is delivered through termly one-to-one sessions with a qualified careers adviser, where learners explore their interests, strengths, and potential next steps. These conversations are reinforced through career-focused discussions integrated into EHCP reviews, helping to ensure that planning is consistent, aspirational, and person centered. To further support a joined-up approach, we also offer dedicated guidance sessions for parents and carers, equipping them to play an active role in their young person’s career journey and informed decision-making.

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