Our Curriculum
What Makes Careers Education At Northcroft School Different
At Haywards Farm School and Northcroft School, our curriculum is designed to be inclusive, adaptive, and responsive, ensuring that every student can access, engage with, and make progress in their learning from their individual starting points.
In line with the expectations of the Ofsted 2025 framework, inclusion is secured through how the curriculum is implemented in practice. Teaching is adapted to remove barriers to learning, with a strong focus on emotional readiness, regulation, and engagement, so that all students are able to participate meaningfully in school life.
Our approach is underpinned by a therapeutic and relational model, supporting students to develop confidence, independence, and the skills needed for learning and life. We recognise that progress is not always linear, and we provide a flexible curriculum that allows students to re-engage and succeed over time.
Leaders regularly review the impact of the curriculum through assessment, student voice, and engagement, ensuring that all students experience a strong sense of belonging, inclusion, and success.
Be Safe, Belong, Be Inspired, through adaptive, inclusive learning that ensures all students can access, sustain engagement, and make meaningful progress.
Careers as a Core Part of the Curriculum
Careers learning is embedded across every subject, not confined to PSHE or themed weeks.
Teachers explicitly link skills in English, Maths, Science, and vocational areas to real-world careers, supported by local labour market information and employer examples. This helps students understand why learning matters and how it connects to life beyond school.
A Therapeutic and Individualised Approach
Our students’ personal development sits at the heart of every careers conversation.
Through our Parental Figure model, Thrive, and PACE approaches, staff build trusted relationships that enable open dialogue about ambitions, fears and aspirations. Each student’s careers journey is highly personalised, aligned to their EHCP outcomes and B² progression steps.
Real-World, Hands-On Experiences
We believe that meaningful experience drives motivation.
Students regularly visit local employers, farms, colleges, and training providers, take part in enterprise projects and contribute to community-based initiatives. Every encounter is carefully planned and risk-assessed to ensure it provides authentic insight into the world of work.
Careers Woven Through Personal Development
Careers education is integrated throughout our wider Personal Development Curriculum, which includes PSHE, ASDAN, Forest School and Stable Futures.
Through these opportunities, students develop vital employability skills — teamwork, leadership, communication and resilience — while building confidence and self-awareness through reflective practice and community engagement.
Early and Continuous Exposure to Possibilities
At Northcroft School, careers education begins in Year 7, rather than Year 9.).
From the start, students explore their strengths, interests, and values, supported by Adviza, local employers and community partners. This early focus nurtures aspiration and ensures students are well-prepared for informed post-16 planning and work experience by Key Stage 4.
Partnership with Local Employers and Providers
We are proud of our strong and growing partnerships with local and regional employers, FE colleges and training providers.
These relationships give our students repeated, meaningful encounters with inspirational professionals, challenging stereotypes and broadening horizons. Our collaboration with Adviza Careers Advisers ensures all guidance is independent, impartial and high-quality.
Evidence and Tracking
Every student has a Careers Passport — a live record of experiences, encounters and achievement.
This portfolio supports EHCP reviews, post-16 applications, transition planning and providing tangible evidence of each learner’s growth and aspiration.
In Summary
At Northcroft School, careers education is a culture not a programme.
We don’t ask, “What job do you want?” we ask, “Who do you want to become?”
Through this approach, our students leave with confidence, purpose, and the belief that they have valuable contributions to make to society.
Core Learning
Phonic And Reading
English
Mathematics
Science
Computing
Humanities
P.S.H.E. & R.S.E.
Personal Development
Promoting British Values
Promoting Cultural Capital
Spiritual, Moral, Social And Cultural Development
PE
Contact Us Today
We are welcoming of all queries and available to provide information relating to our school.
For all general enquiries please contact the main office where a member of our Reception staff will be able to put you in contact with the right person.
