Careers - Parents/Carers Info
Supporting Your Child’s Future
– Careers at Birchwood PRU
At Birchwood PRU, we believe that parents and carers play a vital role in helping young people make informed decisions about their future. Whether your child is with us for a short time or a longer placement, we’re committed to working in partnership with you to support their next steps.
Our careers programme is designed to be flexible and responsive to each pupil’s needs. It includes one-to-one guidance, employer encounters, workplace experiences, and events that help pupils explore their options and build confidence.
How You Can Support Your Child
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Talk about their interests and strengths – even short conversations can help them reflect and feel more confident.
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Explore options together – we’ll provide links to useful websites like Kent Choices and Talking Futures to help guide these discussions.
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Stay informed – we’ll keep you updated on careers activities and opportunities your child may be involved in.
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Reach out – our Careers Leader is available to answer questions and offer advice tailored to your child’s situation.
We want every pupil to leave Birchwood feeling ready for their next step — not just with qualifications, but with the ambition, skills, and self-belief to succeed. Your support makes a big difference.
Careers Programme
Pupils have accessed a range of activities during the last 3 years at Birchwood including:
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A local apprenticeship fair
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Access to the annual Kent Choices event
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Visit to local workplaces (e.g Broome Park Hotel)
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Talks from employers (Holiday Extras)
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A networking event with a number of local employers
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Workshops with The Young Animators
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Series of workshops with the Army – skills, team building etc.
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Work experience
These activities run throughout the academic year to support our rolling cohort of students. If you,
your workplace, or someone you know could help deliver future events, please contact our Careers
Leader, Emma Rouse.
David Chalcroft is now working with Birchwood as an Enterprise Advisor.
Birchwood is very lucky to have this support as David has extensive experience working with apprentices and managing young people at the start of their careers. David has also worked with a wide number of employers and schools and supported links between students and employment.
Resources to Support Parents/Carers
Talking Futures is a resource created to help parents/carers to have informed and constructive conversations with their child/ren about the different training and education resources available to them.
A useful resource for insights into local employment trends, career opportunities, and industry demands.
An overview of career options and qualifications to support fifteen pathways.
Discover the latest salary trends in the UK for 2025 with our comprehensive guides. Reed’s salary and benchmarking guides provide essential wage data and insights across 10 industries.
Receive information and sign up to parent events with leading UK employers.
Information to equip parents/carers with knowledge and information to be able to guide and advise your child towards the best opportunity for them; this could include many options including apprenticeships, T Levels and HTQs.
David Chalcroft is now working with Birchwood as an Enterprise Advisor.
Birchwood is very lucky to have this support as David has extensive experience working with apprentices and managing young people at the start of their careers. David has also worked with a wide number of employers and schools and supported links between students and employment.
Past Student Updates
Callum Brooks came to talk to Birchwood students about his career path since leaving Birchwood himself 6 years ago
Callum went on to pass level 3 qualifications in film making and is now studying for a degree in this area at Canterbury Christchurch university.
Callum has had various directing and other roles within the film industry and has built up a portfolio of experience and qualifications. Callum talked to the students about overcoming difficulties at school and how accessing university and a dream career is not out of their reach.
Thank you to Callum for coming into school and sharing his experiences with the students.
RW
I am now at Folkestone College studying health and social care and I am enjoying the course. I had help from Birchwood's careers advisor, Bethan, to apply for the course on the college website which was really good.
KF
I am now at sixth form college at the football academy and I am doing really well. Birchwood helped me get onto this course and I am really glad I got a place as it is exactly what I want to do.