Visit from the AA (Automobile Association)
We had another visit from the AA Demonstration team. Several groups of our learners were able to see what the AA does and even try out some of the skills.
The learners all asked the visitors about their jobs and what training they had to do to get them.
I think we had some very interested future car mechanics watching very carefully!!
Thank you so much to the AA and to our visitors.
Jewellery workshop at the Birmingham School of Jewellery
Learning about jobs through the curriculum.
GCSE Art students had a fantastic day at Birmingham School of Jewellery. They all made a silver ring from start to finish using traditional jewellery industry techniques. Learners were able to ask questions about the jobs they saw and to find out more about the roles and skills needed to do them.
Salih says "I liked making the ring. It was very interesting'
Camron says "I would think about a job making jewellery in the future."
Thank you to Dauvit for excellent tuition.
Braidwood Careers Day (March 2023)
On Thursday 9th March, despite the snow, we hosted our first Braidwood Careers Day. This involved us welcoming 10 Deaf visitors to our school to provide hands-on workshops and to discuss their jobs and careers pathways with our learners.
We are passionate about providing our learners with as broad an experience of jobs and careers as possible. This aims to raise awareness of jobs and employment sectors they are interested in or those that they may not have yet considered for their future.
The employment rate of people with SEN and an EHCP in the Midlands is sadly very low at present, but we aim to show our learners that there are great jobs and careers out there and to inform them of the different ways they can achieve them. We want all our learners to have strong aspirations for their future and the skills they need to achieve them.
Our Careers Day involved Deaf role models whose jobs included a builder, an electrician, a TV Chef, an actor / performer, a police forensic worker, youth workers, a specialist office supplies manager, a cake decorator and an architect. Sessions included discussion of their jobs and the skills needed to do them, as well as hands-on ‘have a go’ sessions. Our visitors also answered questions from our learners and talked about the challenges they faced, and still encounter, in the job market. It was also a great opportunity to discuss how they arrived at their present job in terms of training, qualifications and further education etc.
The day was an amazing success and all our learners were fully engaged and enjoying the sessions. We are already planning to hold another Careers Day in the new academic year.
Visit our photo gallery to see more!
Comments from learners:
"I want to do the day again!" (Alex)
"I am really interested in the job of electrician. I want to do that when I leave school" (Ismaeel)
"Punk chef was amazing!" (Sophie)
"Police forensic work was so good. I like fingerprints and looking at blood. I want to do this for my work experience" (Owen)
"Can we do building lesson?" (Patrik)
The Green Village Project with Willmot Dixon (Feb 2023)
We recently completed our Green Village Project with Willmott Dixon. For five weeks, Marie Wilkes supported learners from Year 7, 8 and 9 to understand different job roles in the construction industry and how environmental concerns and sustainability are important.
The learners formed teams whose aim was to design a village of 12 houses of three different types that also used renewable energy sources.
The project required the learners to develop their skills of teamwork, communication and problem-solving as well as creativity.It was wonderful to see our learners discussing plans and evaluation them in light of their new learning. Each group came up with a fully costed and environmentally tested village design.
The results were amazing, and the groups presented their ideas to Willmott Dixon. The judges were very impressed and all learners received a £10 Amazon Voucher for their hard work.
Learners also achieved an Industrial Cadet Bronze Award.
Thank you to Marie Wilkes and Willmott Dixon for all their support.
Deaf Role Model - Asnath Losala - Hairdresser / Athlete
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What a fantastic visit from Asnath Losala, an ex pupil, in our English group today! As Asnath has set up her own mobile hairdressing business, we were questioning her about the pros and cons of working for a company versus setting up on your own. She gave pupils lots of useful advice and shared her experiences with us. It is so useful to hear about deaf peoples experiences of the world of work. They have great advice about how to face and overcome obstacles and inclusion issues.
We also asked whether Asnath thought the Deaf Olympics should be staged at the same time as the main Olympics. As an Olympic medal winner, she had lots to share on this topic. Our pupils asked lots of questions which will inform their writing of balanced arguments after half term.
Maybe next time, we will have time to question Asnath about her presenting and acting roles. Such a talented lady!
Thank you Asnath! You are a fantastic role model for our young people and, as an ex-pupil, we are incredibly proud of you and your many achievements.
Deaf Role Model Visit - David Buxton (Dec 2022)
A group of pupils met with David Buxton, CEO of Action on Disability and former councillor, and they learnt about politics and voting. We discussed why deaf people should be involved in politics and how that is able to change things such as disability employment law.
They worked in groups to create their own law linked to deaf education and presented their work to an audience who had to vote for the best group!
HS2 Film Premiere - Showcasing our Work together
HS2 and Braidwood Trust School for the Deaf hosted a red carpet premiere today (30 September) for a short film they have worked together to create. ‘HS2: Building a railway for everyone’ highlights the power of hearing in a station environment and shows how the school’s pupils are working with HS2 to ensure Britain’s new railway is inclusive and accessible for all.
It is estimated that there are approximately 11 million people in the UK with a hearing loss, which makes it the second most common disability, but the lack of visible signs that a person might need additional support when at a station or onboard a train can add to the challenges the Deaf community face.
When HS2 enters service at the end of the decade it will welcome millions of passengers with multiple and diverse needs. The innovative partnership with Braidwood School is just one of the ways that HS2 is listening and learning from disabled people to drive positive change.
Howard Mitchell, Head of Innovation at HS2 said:
“HS2 will serve Britain for at least 120 years, so it’s vital that we understand and act upon the day-to-day barriers the Deaf community face when using public transport.
“We’ve been inspired by the passion and enthusiasm the pupils have shown. They are incredible role models acting on behalf of the wider Deaf and hearing impaired community to drive positive change and really make a difference to the future of train travel in our country.”
Through a shared learning partnership established in 2020, HS2 hosted lessons and field trips for the pupils in partnership with Network Rail and Avanti West Coast. The students travelled on trains and visited stations, allowing them to demonstrate the multiple challenges and barriers they face. From audio announcements confirming platform changes, to the lack of visible information in toilets, Braidwood’s learners captured the many improvements they’d like to see.
Their findings were shared through a series of workshops led by HS2’s education team, which saw the pupils create models and pitch their ideas for change to HS2’s innovation team.
Train travel is a daunting prospect for many of Braidwood’s 70 pupils and the learning and research project with HS2 was the first time that some of its pupils had ever boarded a train.
Phil Bailey, Deputy Head at Braidwood Trust School for the Deaf said:
“Deafness is a hidden disability, but today our pupils have shown they have powerful voices and how important it is that we all listen.
“It’s easy to take for granted the power of hearing in a busy station and crowded train environment, and that’s what we’ve aimed to highlight in the film. Our children need to be part of the world, whether it’s a hearing world or a deaf world, and this opportunity to influence change is really important.”
Ahead of the film’s premiere in morning assembly, Hodge Hill MP, Liam Byrne, spoke of his pride that pupils from his constituency are helping to influence the design of HS2’s new stations and British-built bullet-style trains.
Liam Byrne MP said:
“Braidwood School is a jewel at the heart of my constituency in Hodge Hill. Listening to the pupils this morning demonstrated just how important it is for major infrastructure projects, like HS2, to not just build projects fit for the future but to build projects that are inclusive of all needs.
“Braidwood’s pupils will benefit from the jobs HS2 will provide as well as using the railway itself. They are an inspiration to us all and it is great that HS2 has built such a strong relationship with them.”
Through its education and volunteer programmes, HS2 continues to work closely with Braidwood Trust School. It supports and inspires pupils to develop the key skills that will help them to build a career and hopefully play their part in the construction of Britain’s new railway.
Photo credit: HS2 Ltd
1 to 1 Independent Careers Meetings
All learners in year 11, 12 and 13 have now had their annual 1 to 1 Careers Meeting with our Independent Careers Advisor, Mrs Sue Gough. They have discussed their plans for the future and the pathways they are interested in following. They have also been given links and resources to follow up this meeting and updated their Career Plans.
Every learner at Braidwood School has a 1 to 1 meeting with our ICA, and we encourage parents to discuss this and the plans made, with their children. Parents are more than welcome to request they attend 1 to 1 Interviews and in year 11,12 and 13 we give two interviews in the year to discuss ever-changing plans and parents are always invited to one of these meetings.
If you would like to contact our Independent Careers Advisor, Sue Gough, for any CEIAG related reason, please email her on careers@braidwood.bham.sch.uk
Apprenticeships, Traineeships and T Levels Workshops - ASK
Please click on the logos above if you or your child would like to know more.
In September, we were visited by Donna Dean, ASK Ambassador - Apprenticeship Support & Knowledge Advisor at Workpays Ltd.
Donna spoke to Year 10,11,12 and 13 about Apprenticeships and Traineeships. Lots of learners were interested in these pathways and the possibility of working and studying at the same time. There were lots of questions and every learner took home an information pack on Apprenticeships.
"I don't want to go to college. I want a job. Maybe Apprenticeships or Traineeships would be good idea for me.' (Abdullah)
'I did not know I can have traineeship or apprenticeship.' (Lilly)
To see these presentations, please see the attachments below
College Applications
Year 11, 12 and 13 Leavers took part in sessions explaining how to use online prospectuses to research college courses ensuring that they understand the level of the course, course content and the entry requirements. They then completed college application form online for their chosen college and course.
Learners had already discussed the different pathways available to them in their 1 to 1 Careers Interview with Sue Gough, our Independent Careers Advisor.
'Me Plc' Activity with Lendlease
Year 10,11 and 12 Learners took part in a 6-week project called 'Me Plc'. The programme was developed by Birmingham Cornerstone Employers and delivered in school by Rita Patel-Miller and Amy Strachan from Lendlease. Over the 6 weeks, learners are encouraged to consider their skills, qualities and abilities and to develop a memorable 30-second pitch they could deliver to an employer in a job interview. Learners thought about how the employment process and how employers select new employees. They created videos of their answers to the question "Tell me about yourself".
Rita and Amy worked closely with our learners, even arriving at school an hour early every week to have BSL lessons in an attempt to improve their communication skills and to raise their deaf awareness.
The project has been a huge success and we look forward to repeating it with more learners.
"Thank you Rita and Amy for helping us be more confident and able to talk about our skills" (Jordan)
"Learning about how job interviews work and how to explain our skills to employers will help us in our future when we get an interview. Thank you!" (Ismaeel)
"I have learned to give examples of my skills and what I can do." (Briar)
Virtual Work Experience with HS2
Please click on the attachment at the bottom of this page to view the whole project our learners created for HS2
September 2022
Students have their say on the design of HS2’s stations and trains
Pupils from three Birmingham schools and colleges, dedicated to providing support for students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), have presented their ideas for how the design of HS2’s stations and trains can meet the needs of passengers with a disability.
Pupils from Braidwood School for the Deaf in Hodge Hill, Heart of Birmingham College in Hodge Hill and Queensbury School in Erdington were invited to take part in a virtual work experience programme with HS2 during the summer. The partnership forms part of HS2’s commitment to provide inclusive career development opportunities for SEND pupils and support them to achieve positive career outcomes.
According to NHS data*, the proportion of adults in the UK with a learning disability who are in employment is 5.9%, but in Birmingham it is just 1.4%. Working closely with SEND schools in the region, HS2’s Skills, Employment and Education team hope to improve on these alarming statistics by creating pathways into learning and employment on Britain’s new railway.
Richard Winter, Education Manager at HS2 Ltd said:
“It’s vital that HS2 leaves a lasting skills legacy, and that local people benefit from the thousands of training and employment opportunities HS2 is creating.
“Through our work as a Cornerstone Employer for the Careers and Enterprise Company in Birmingham, we’re striving to ensure that young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are at the forefront of the opportunities we are creating and feel empowered to recognise the valuable role that they can play in the delivery this once in a lifetime project.”
HS2staff who volunteer as Enterprise Advisors supported the work experience programme, and three employees with a registered disability were among those to take part, allowing them to share their personal experiences and openly discuss concerns about potential barriers into employment.
Students were assigned a bespoke project which encouraged them to work as a team to develop innovations which could make HS2’s stations and trains more accessible to people with a disability. On completion, the team delivered their presentation to HS2’s Innovation and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion teams for review.
Andrew Pestana, Innovation Strategy Manager at HS2 Ltd said:
“The students’ ideas really highlighted the barriers they can face when using public transport. It’s vital that we listen and learn from their feedback to ensure that Britain’s new railway reflects the needs of everyone it will serve.
“Simple ideas, like changing seat configurations for signers, and ensuring that all staff carry a notebook and pen really can make a huge difference for passengers with a hearing impairment, and we’ll certainly be taking those ideas on board.”
Phil Bailey, Deputy Head and Careers Leader at Braidwood School, said:
“HS2 have put so much effort into creating a programme that really is so useful, relevant, and totally worthwhile. It really has opened the students' eyes and got them interested to know more.
“HS2 is going to be a massive part of their lives and raising their awareness of it and the opportunities it will bring for employment is so important.”
HS2 will continue their schools' engagement programme in the autumn term, highlighting the pathways into employment it offers for young people, including its work experience and apprenticeship programmes.
To view our HS2 Project - /_site/data/files/users/curriculum/careers/8CD8061905F9A857807F664A5A07C569.pdf
For more information and to access HS2’s online education resources, visit https://www.hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/education/
Quotes from learners:
'It was great that HS2 wanted to listen to our ideas on how to help deaf people. We met lots of HS2 employees whose jobs are to think about inclusion and diversity. This was a great experience and we learned a lot about different jobs at HS2' (Amber)
'I was nervous to presenting our ideas but I try my best and the man said we are good ideas. I more confident now. It was good.' (Sindeed)
Year 10 / 12 Volunteering Activity (Garden Work)
Year 11 and 12 have been volunteering at Grove Primary School to clear the garden area for their pupils.
Volunteering is an important skill and a good way to get some work experience
Presentation from BID Employment Services
Birmingham Institute for the Deaf (BID) visited Braidwood to talk to Year 10,11,12 and 13 about the services they offer to all Deaf young people while at school, and after they leave. Safina and Jet told us about the Equality Act and Disability Rights in the Workplace. They also explained Access to Work and how it supports deaf people and their employers to support them in the workplace.
'I do not use BID because never been. I will go and look what happens there. maybe it will be good and can help me future?' (Farhan)
'Knowing my rights is important. I want a job and can do it but some people think i cant because me deaf or disabled. I have rights and can do jobs.' (Joshua)
Visit to Walsall College
On 24th November, Year 12 and 13 Learners visited Walsall College. We were given a tour and were able to see a lot of different faculties and ask tutors and students any questions we had. We met with three ex-learners (Jessica, Louis and Hassan) who told us all about their experiences of transition to college and also about the great success they have had there and their plans for their futures. They explained the excellent support that is available at Walsall College and how it helped them on their courses.
'Walsall College is much bigger than I thought it was. It looks like a really good place and I will apply to go there.' (Jamie)
'The Braidwood ex-learners help me because I was worry about college. Now I am not worry'. (Karmveer)
'I want to go Walsall College to achieve and then go to university.' (Joyal)
'The support at Walsall will really help in lessons and I cant wait to start my Level 3 course!' (Amber)
Visit to Solihull College
Year 11, 12 and 13 learners visited Solihull College to find out what courses were offered and to see the facilities they have. It was a really useful day, and we met some Braidwood Ex-Learners. They showed us around, answered our questions and told us about the support they receive. They talked about what they found good and not so good about getting used to college life. It was so good to see them and hear about their successes and their plans.
'Solihull was interesting and have lots of support' (Sindeed)
'I want to learn about childcare and Claire explained the courses I can do' (Fiza)
'The college have lots deaf people and help them. I will come here I hope' (Charlotte)
Learning how the School Council works
Members of the School Council explained their roles and responsibilities and the work they do. They discussed the need to develop leadership skills and well as team work and problem-solving. They showed excellent communication and presentation skills too. These are all important skills for work and for life.
