Careers Education

We are committed to ensuring that our careers information advice and guidance to students is of high quality. In common with all schools, we are framing our careers education work around The Gatsby Benchmarks. These eight benchmarks outline good practice for schools as detailed below. Our focus during the current academic year is to apply for and achieve the Quality in Careers Standard. 

The Gatsby Benchmarks

Gatsby Benchmark

Gatsby Benchmark

Details

Our approach

1. A stable careers programme

Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.

Our website provides details of our policy and events during the year.

2. Learning from career and labour market information

Every student, and their parents should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities.
They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information. 

Year 7 students are taught about Business and Enterprise through
“The Tenner Challenge”.
We are developing this further this year through a partnership with the London Enterprise Advisory Network. We embed careers education into our PSHCEE programme and also provide independent Connexions appointments for years 10 and 11.

3. Addressing the needs of each student

Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student.
A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

We aim to provide a personalised careers education programme for students in all year groups.
For example, we are supported
by local Facilities Management company ABM’s Junior Engineering Enterprise Programme for year 7 students, an ongoing programme to involve students with transition needs. We also benefit from Greystone Construction’s workshops promoting women in engineering and construction careers.

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers 

All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.

We are working this year to ensure that this takes place across all subject areas.  We have excellent practice currently in Food Technology with our links to local company Belazu and in Science with local company ABM.

5. Encounters with employers and employees

Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

We provide work experience for
all students as part of our Year 10 curriculum. To supplement this programme, we hold an Interview Day, where students are interviewed by one of sixteen external providers including staff from British Airways and HS2.

This complements our other employer engagement activities throughout key stage 3 and 4.

6. Experiences of workplaces 

Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.

Workplace experiences are provided by local employers ABM and Belazu, by our Year 10 work experience providers. We are working to broaden this provision this year.

 

7. Encounters with further and higher education 

Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.

We are piloting an exciting programme with St John’s College, Oxford University for students in Year 9 to support them in developing an understanding of further and higher education opportunities. We run workshops in school, inviting local colleges and higher education organisations to promote this to our students. 

8. Personal guidance 

Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level.  

Every student has the opportunity to meet with an independent Connexions advisor during Year 10 and / or Year 11. We also provide guidance for University Admissions through our sixth form pastoral staff.