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CAREERS EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE

Introduction

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Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is an essential part of the support we offer to students at Archbishop Ilsley School and Sixth Form Centre. Effective careers support can help to prepare young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life; it can help them to make decisions and manage transitions as learners and workers. As options for young people become more varied and complex, it is vital that we support them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices for their future. As a result, the careers programme has a whole-school remit designed to complement the rest of the school curriculum.

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This policy sets out how career activities are delivered at school and explains what we can expect from the careers programme.

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Aims and objectives

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The Archbishop Ilsley careers programme aims to:

• encourage students to be ambitious, broaden their horizons and explore their own career aspirations throughout their life at school

• ensure students’ readiness to take their next step in their learning or career

Archbishop Ilsley School and Sixth Form Centre follows the principles of the Gatsby Benchmarks. The objectives for the careers programme are as follows:

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• helping students to understand the changing world of work

• facilitating meaningful encounters with employers for all students

• supporting positive transitions into KS4, post-16 and post-18

• enabling students to develop the research skills to find out about opportunities

• helping students to develop the skills, attitudes and qualities to make a successful transition into the world of work

• encouraging participation in continued learning, including further and higher education and apprenticeships

• supporting inclusion, challenging stereotyping and promoting equality of opportunity

• contributing to strategies for raising achievement, particularly by increasing motivation

Student entitlement

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All students are entitled to be fully involved in an effective CEIAG programme. Students are encouraged to take an active role in their own career development, so the careers programme emphasises student participation with a focus on self-development; learning about careers and the world of work; and developing career management and employability skills.

During their time at Archbishop Ilsley, all students can expect:

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• the support they need to make the right choices in Year 9, Year 11 and in sixth form

• access up-to-date and unbiased information on future learning and training, careers and labour market information

• support to develop the self-awareness and career management skills needed for their future

• career lessons during tutor time from Y7 to Y13 covering options after school, the world of work, the job market and the skills needed for the future

• at least four meaningful encounters with representatives from the world of work; this could be through work experience, workplace visits, assemblies, careers talks (in or outside lessons), projects, specific lessons, workshops and the annual careers fair

• to hear from a range of education and training providers, including colleges, universities and apprenticeship organisations; this could include visits and taster days, as well as assemblies, talks and annual careers fair

• the opportunity to relate what they learn in lessons to their life and career beyond school

• the opportunity to talk through their career and educational choices with staff including form tutors, subject teachers and the careers team

• access to one-to-one guidance with an impartial careers adviser, by appointment in year 10 or 11 and 12/13; this is available to students of any year group

• the school to keep parents/carers informed of their progress and provide parents/carers with information to support students’ career planning and decision-making

Parental involvement

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Young people do not make career decisions in isolation and parents/carers can have a substantial impact, as well as a clear interest in the right outcomes for their young person. The school is keen to foster parental involvement in the careers programme, wherever possible.

Events for parents and carers

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Parents/carers are invited into school to discuss their son/daughter’s progress in Parents Consultation meetings (part of review day and progress evenings). In readiness for these events, students’ career aspirations are collected by form tutors to allow discussions around progress relating to next steps, career ideas and (in KS4 and 5) career planning, as well as academic progress. In addition, specialist events for parents include Year 9 Options Evening and Sixth Form Open Evening (Year 11 parents).

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Parents/carers are kept up to date with career-related events and activities affecting their son/daughter via letters and texts home, the school website and social media. With the student’s agreement, a copy of the action plan from one-to-one careers meetings will be sent home. They are also welcome to make contact with the Careers Team at school, should they have any questions or concerns.