Careers Spotlight: Learning About Youth Work with No Limits KS4

As part of our PSHE and careers learning, students recently took part in a session led by No Limits, a local organisation that supports young people across our community. The session helped students understand both the role of youth workers and the real-life challenges young people may face, while also highlighting youth work as a possible career pathway.

Real Stories: Becoming a Youth Worker

The session began with Gerson and Emma sharing their personal journeys into youth work. Students heard about:

• What inspired them to work with young people

• The skills and qualities needed for the role

• How youth work can make a positive difference in young people’s lives

This helped students see youth work as a real, achievable career, rooted in empathy, communication, and community support.

What is No Limits?

Students explored who No Limits are and the services they offer to young people. This included viewing an animated video explaining:

• How young people can access support

• The different services available

• How No Limits works alongside schools and communities

Students were also guided through the No Limits website to better understand how young people can seek help when they need it.

Understanding the Role of a Youth Worker

Students learned that youth workers:

• Listen, rather than lecture

• Help young people think through their choices

• Share clear, honest, age-appropriate information

• Support young people to stay safe

• Take action if someone is at risk (safeguarding)

A key message throughout the session was that the focus of youth work is support, not punishment, helping young people feel heard and empowered to make safer choices.

What is Detached Youth Work?

The session introduced students to detached youth work, which involves youth workers meeting young people in their own communities, such as parks or local spaces, rather than expecting them to attend a building-based service.

Students discussed why this approach can be effective and how it helps reach young people who may not otherwise seek support.

Exploring Risks Young People May Face

Through discussion, students identified challenges young people can experience in the community, including:

• Drugs and understanding their consequences

• Personal safety and environmental risks (such as poor street lighting)

• Peer pressure

• Mental health challenges

• Difficulties finding employment

• Money and financial pressures

These conversations helped students reflect on risk, safety, and support, and understand where trusted adults and services can help.

Creative Activity: Designing the Perfect Youth Service

To finish the session, students took part in a creative activity where they designed their ideal youth service. This encouraged them to think about:

• What young people need to feel safe and supported

• What services would be helpful

• How youth workers could best engage with young people

This activity developed teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills while reinforcing learning from the session.

Why This Matters

Sessions like this support students’:

• PSHE learning around health, wellbeing, and safety

• Careers education by showcasing real-world roles

• Understanding of support services available to them

• Confidence to seek help when needed

We are grateful to No Limits for providing such an engaging and informative session and for helping students understand both the support available to them and the people who work to keep young people safe.

KS4 - Knife Crime workshop written reflections

KS4 pupils have been working incredibly hard in PSHE this week as they reflect on their first Knife Crime workshop with Paul from Hampshire Police. The session gave students an honest and powerful insight into the realities and consequences of knife crime, helping them to think deeply about personal safety, decision-making and the impact that violence can have on individuals, families and communities.

Through thoughtful discussion and written reflections, pupils have been exploring how positive choices, awareness and responsible behaviour play an important role in keeping themselves and others safe. Their maturity and engagement have been fantastic to see, and the workshop has already sparked meaningful conversations across the year group.

We are really looking forward to welcoming Paul back this Tuesday for our second workshop, where students will build on what they have learned and continue to develop their understanding of how to navigate difficult situations confidently and safely.

Another excellent example of KS4 demonstrating responsibility, resilience and readiness for the world beyond school.

 

AQA Unit Awards with the Engagement Pupils

 

Pupils on the Engagement Pathways work towards accreditation on the AQA Unit Awards Scheme. This encourages students to engage with learning and have their achievements in their diverse personalised curriculum recognised. Students are rewarded with certificates each time they successfully complete a unit of learning. They can build up a portfolio to evidence their skills, knowledge and experience.  

The awards are versatile and can be delivered in partnership with our external providers, or on-site. Some examples of recent success in off-site accreditations include: Basic Fishing Skills, Wiring a Three Pinned Plug and Introduction to Indoor Top-Rope Climbing. It's great to see our pupils working so successfully within the local community and having meaningful encounters.

Using the Unit Awards Scheme enables us to recognise the breadth and depth of our student's achievements on-site. During the Autumn term, Making a Cheesecake, Improving Self-Knowledge and Self-Esteem and Designing and Carving a Pumpkin have been achieved. Pupils can choose unit awards from an extensive library to fit around what they already do and what they have interest in.

 

Unit Awards boost confidence, increase engagement and improve motivation. On leaving The Polygon School, each pupil will have an extensive portfolio which can be shown to colleges and employers to demonstrate their lifelong learning journey. 

KS4 - Collaborative Project with Hampshire Police

We are excited to inform you that our KS4 pupils will be working with Paul Richards from Hampshire Police this half term within their PSHE lessons.

As a school, we are proud to work in partnership with a range of amazing charities and organisations across Southampton to enhance the delivery of our PSHE curriculum. These partnerships help our students become familiar with the support available to them, build confidence in accessing local services, and provide valuable employer encounters to develop their understanding of potential careers.

All sessions will adhere to the NEW PSHE Statutory Guidance (effective from July 2025) and will include the below learning outcomes:

·        I understand the concepts and laws relating to harms which are exploitative including criminal exploitation.

·        I understand the risks and signs of grooming or exploitation, and how to seek help where there is a concern.

·        I understand the laws relating to violent or threatening behaviour.

·        I understand how to increase personal safety in public spaces, including when socialising with friends, family, the wider community or strangers.

·        I understand ways of seeking help when needed and how to report harmful behaviour.

·        I understand that there are strategies which can be used to increase safety, and that this does not mean you will be blamed if you are a victim of harmful behaviour.

·        I understand the importance of trusting instincts when something doesn’t feel right, and understand that in some situations a person might appear trustworthy but have harmful intentions.

·        I can recognise and manage peer influence in relation to risk-taking behaviour and personal safety, including peer influence online and social media.

·        I understand how to develop key social and emotional skills that will increase safety from involvement in conflict and violence.

·        I understand the law as it relates to knives and violence.

·        I can take part in a First Aid skills session and understand how to contact support and services in an emergency situation.

During our first session on Tuesday 18th November, we will be joined by two additional members of the Educational First Aid Team. Students will receive an introduction to the project and team, explore seized knives, and discuss some of the key objectives around knife crime and personal safety. The session will also include essential first aid training, supported by the use of prosthetic materials to enable a hands-on, practical learning experience.

We are delighted to be able to offer our students this valuable opportunity to learn from local professionals, supporting their personal development and preparing them for life beyond school. Please check back in with the blog each week for updates and photos from the sessions, we can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to!

VAWG Film Screening

 

It's finally time! 

We are all so proud of this collaboration. Enjoy the photos from the night and read our press release detailing the project! 

A unique collaboration between local schools, Hampshire charity Yellow Door, and a researcher from Southampton Solent University has produced a powerful short film exploring the issue of sexual harassment.

In November 2024, The Polygon School and Yellow Door - a charity focused on preventing and responding to domestic and sexual abuse – attended an event together showcasing *Screening Sexual Violence, a web resource developed as part of a British Academy-funded research project led by Dr Donna Peberdy, Associate Professor at Solent University. The project examines how film can be used as a tool for education, awareness, and social change.

Inspired by both the resource and a talk from Dr Peberdy, Chloe Foster (The Polygon School) and Wayne K (Yellow Door), who were working on a collaborative project together exploring violence against women and girls (VAWG), expressed a desire to create their own film with students at The Polygon School - wanting to show how they could be part of the solution, not just seen as the problem.

Dr Peberdy was invited by Yellow Door to collaborate on the film as part of a broader prevention and early intervention initiative, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The project was supported by Solent University through expert staff, students and the use of its professional film and television facilities.

As a former public information filmmaker, Wayne K. , Independent Sexual Violence Adviser and Young Person’s Advocate at Yellow Door, recognised the power of film to communicate complex issues. He says:

“This impactful work would not have come together without this wonderful collaboration and everyone’s passion to give young people a voice. It is an experience these young people will never forget. They should be extremely proud of what they have achieved – knowing that their work will help others while learning some fantastic new skills. This short film was truly created by young people for their peers.” 

Working with boys aged 12–16 at The Polygon School, Dr Peberdy was joined by MA Film Production student Fergus Mclean and PhD Art in Education student Emma Morrissey. Together, the Solent team ran creative workshops to explore the students’ ideas and help them shape the narrative. The students developed the concept and story and were later invited, along with their teacher and a representative from Yellow Door to Solent University’s state-of-the-art studios for a script read-through.

Chloe Foster, teacher and Head of PSHE at The Polygon School, is incredibly proud of what the young people achieved through the project and recognises the power of schools collaborating with local organisations such as Yellow Door and Solent University. She says:

“This project began, quite humbly, in a coffee shop in Portswood back in July 2024 – a charity and a school coming together to explore creative ways to support young people in navigating complex conversations about VAWG, and how to approach these issues meaningfully in schools. I am extremely proud of the project we designed together, the journey our students have been on, and the incredible experiences they’ve had through this unique collaboration. I believe this film represents a valuable resource for schools to use within PSHE lessons, created by students to inspire and educate their peers. Donna and Solent University have been absolutely incredible. From empowering students, to shaping scripts, to handing over real tech and trusting our young people to use it – they didn’t just help us make a film. They helped young people find their voice.”

The resulting film, Now Your Turn, was shot over the summer, with students from both The Polygon School and Crestwood Community School taking on acting and filmmaking roles. Director Fergus says:

“There is a unique magic to a film set, amongst the logistical challenges, that brings a strong sense of unity to a group of people. Watching the boys develop - from averted eye contact and nervous laughter to genuine sincerity and important conversation through the journey of a shoot day - has been hugely gratifying.”

On Thursday 23 October, the University rolled out the red carpet for a special screening of the film to celebrate the students’ achievements. Alongside families and teachers, organisations from across the region attended the packed event - with many requesting copies of the film and expressing interest in collaborating with the University on similar initiatives.

Dr Donna Peberdy says:

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction to both the film and the wider Screening Sexual Violence project. It’s a reminder of why applied research and creativity matters in education. It’s not just about teaching facts or ticking boxes – it’s about giving young people a voice, a platform, and a chance to shape the narrative. That’s what makes this work so powerful.”

“This isn’t just a short film – it’s the result of a process that empowered young people, sparked meaningful conversations, and showed that boys can be part of the solution, not just the problem. That was their aim from the start: to make a film with the message that boys can help end violence against women and girls.”

Now Your Turn will be free to watch on the Screening Sexual Violence resource soon. Register to receive an alert when it becomes available.

About the Resource

*Screening Sexual Violence is an innovative online educational platform created in association with the 16 Days 16 Films festival and NGO. It features a curated selection of award-winning short films by female filmmakers from around the world – including many not previously available to the public. Each film is supported by research-informed resources, including filmmaker interviews, key discussion themes, and adaptable educational materials designed to inspire, support and inform meaningful conversations about sexual violence.

Ties, Ties and more Ties

 

Year 11 and their ties!

In WorkSkills this half term we have been looking at personal presentation in relation to Interviews. We have looked at and discussed, dress code, hygiene and greetings.

As well as this we have also been practicing a valuable life skill.....tying a tie.

There were laughs, frustration and some odd looking knots but all of the boys did a great job of learning to tie their ties as you can see below. Well done for the perseverance !

Vocational Wednesdays

As part of their personalised timetables, a group of the Morris House pupils attend a vocational provision at the Routes Skill Centre.

Steve teaches them a number of different areas of construction, all as part of their Level 1 Multi Trade Construction qualification. 

The boys learn the basics of tiling, brickwork, plastering and plumbing, and more. 

The course lasts 4 years, and goes towards their Laser Learning Employment & Progression Qualification - which can be carried on in their next stage of education.

The set up in the workshop replicates that of a real work environment, so the pupils learn a work ethic as well as skills to set them up in a job, and the scenarios are realistic for training purposes too! 

Bringing Reading to life

KS3 have been reading a selection of stories about surviving in extreme conditions. We have been learning new vocabulary and trying new tinned food like Corned Beef to try and understand the struggle of the characters in our books.  

Check out pictures below of us exploring a real ration pack from the Army. We discussed this as a career opportunity and skills we had that would benefit us like resilience, co-operation and teamwork.  

Your Future Career Event

 Your Future Career Event

Today pupils in KS4 visited the 'Your Future' Career Event. This was hosted at Solent University and involved local colleges, Universities and employers, all on hand to give the pupils information about courses, apprenticeships, training programmes and job roles on offer.

Pupils spoke to a variety of the exhibitors in order to explore their own career interests and options for their next steps.