Non-Qualification Programme

The aim of our non-qualification programmes is to support the wider development of post 16 students by equipping them with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Students have opportunities to develop employability skills and participate in other activities of value which enable them to progress to become educated citizens. Participation in the non-qualification programmes is recorded and used to support in the writing of student references. 

The following list is not exclusive and other opportunities will be shared with students as and when they occur:

The PSHE Programme is based on the PSHE Association programme of study for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. It was written to sit alongside the Statutory Guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education published by the DfE in June 2019.

The programme of study is based on three core themes (Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World) within which there is broad overlap and flexibility. There is a balance throughout this Programme of Study between preparing students to manage their current lives and laying the foundations for managing future experiences.

The Careers Programme. All students in Year 12 participate in a series of careers workshops delivered by Prospects, an independent careers service. The scope covered within these sessions include: exploring university courses, apprenticeships, interview skills and the job markets. During the course of Years 12 and 13, all students also participate in a minimum of one 1-2-1 or small group careers interview with Prospects.

In addition, students attend a variety of events / visits including: the National Skills Live event, the National Apprenticeship Conference, the UCAS Exhibition, University visits and careers talks by Cardinal Wiseman Alumni.    

The Catholic Life & Ethics Programme is delivered by the RE Faculty and offers students the opportunity to study a broad range of contemporary moral issues such as theories of crime and punishment; peace and conflict; medical ethics and its application in everyday decision making. The General RE scheme has been composed to incorporate academic rigour and challenge and is approved by the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

The Leadership Programme offers students a range of options to develop leadership skills including the opportunity to complete Duke of Edinburgh and Sports Leadership qualifications.  

The Study Skills Programme includes information on “effective study’ with a focus on research based metacognition skills and strategies to improve exam performance. The students are taught strategies that they can use in their independent study to embed learning into their long term memory.