Careers

Introduction

Career education is part of the curriculum that allows students to gain the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to be able to make informed choices about a career path and to begin to succeed in the world of work. The aim of a careers programme is to, not only show students the different routes open to them once they leave school, but to give them the skills to manage their career path. This should not be limited to deciding when and where to move on to from school, but also to having the skills needed to secure and succeed in the workplace (also known as employability skills).

Our careers programme supports the work the school does to promote Success for Life that every student, regardless of ability or circumstance, leaves with the foundations for a rich and fulfilling life. Success for Life includes having the knowledge necessary to understand and enjoy the world around them, and to progress to the next stage of education, training or employment and becoming economically independent and enjoying a rewarding career or occupation. Our character values form the basis for us to develop well-rounded individuals who have both the academic qualifications and personal attributes to thrive in society. Qualifications + Character = Success for Life underpins how we believe that an individual needs more than academic learning to succeed in life. 

Careers lead
Mrs J Jackson - Transition and Engagement Leader
Email: jjn@denefield.org.uk
Tel: 0118 9413458

Career programme summary

Our careers education, advice and guidance is provided, or taught, through several means, including; access to unbiased and professional careers advice at key points in their education journey (but available on request for any student at any point in their journey), PSHE lessons delivered during tutor time and during Success for Life lessons, visits from training providers and employers, and presentations given by our pool of professional parent and alumni volunteers.

Our investment in careers advice ensures that the guidance we provide is current, impartial and relevant for the young people soon to be embarking upon their chosen courses and professions. Targeted advice begins in Key Stage 3, particularly around the time students are choosing their option subjects, and we ensure that every student in Year 11 has a plan for the next two years of their education, whether it be continuing into the Sixth Form with A Levels, more vocational courses at college or an apprenticeship with a local business. Our Sixth Form students receive advice and support, particularly with university and apprenticeship applications. Their destinations post-18 are monitored with interest, and they are warmly invited to return to Denefield as alumni to talk about their chosen career pathway.

We have a three-year plan to improve and enhance our careers programme, which is reviewed and updated annually.

The impact of our careers programme is measured and assessed through progression and destinations information, student voice, including the Compass+ Futures Questionnaire, post-event evaluation, but we always welcome informal feedback so please do get in touch with Mrs Jackson (jjn@denefield.org.uk) if you would like to.

Compliance and statutory information

Denefield is committed to meeting the requirements set out by Department for Education’s Careers Strategy published in December 2017. This includes our intention to adhere to the Eight Gatsby Benchmarks for outstanding career provision:

1. A stable careers programme.
2. Learning from career and labour market information.
3. Addressing the needs of each Student.
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers.
5. Encounters with employers and employees.
6. Experiences of workplaces.
7. Encounters with further and higher education.
8. Personal guidance (Gatsby Foundation, 2014).

Furthermore, our policy is to set out Denefield’s commitment to fulfilling its duties in relation to the statutory career guidance duty (Education Act 2011). This states that all schools should provide independent careers guidance from Years 7 to 13 and that this guidance should:

• be impartial
• include information on a range of pathways, including university options or apprenticeships
• be adapted to the needs of the student.

For more information please see our Careers Education and Guidance Policy which can be found on our policies page.

In addition, the school is compliant with Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 (updated January 2018), which states that all academies must give education and training providers the opportunity to talk to students about approved technical qualifications and apprenticeships. Further information relating to this is set out in our related document, Provider Access Policy which can be found on our policies page.

Our careers programme is reviewed annually in September.

Information for Parents/Carers

As a parent, it is difficult to have the right answers when the world of work and education is changing all the time.  Here are some useful resources to help you keep up to speed and answer your child’s questions:

https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/careers-advice-for-parents/

https://careermap.co.uk/careermag-parents/

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

In addition, we share information about careers events, post 16 and 18 options, work experience and relevant opportunities, via our noticeboard, which all parents are able to view on the Satchel One App. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or need some assistance.  Likewise, if you have an inspiring career and would like to share your experience, please do volunteer to join one of our events.

Information for Students

There are many resources available to help you with any issue you have regarding future aspirations and choices.  These range from advice on choosing your GCSE or post 16 options, choosing a university or apprenticeship, writing a CV or applying for jobs

Careers Resources – for links to useful website or documents.

Information about Apprenticeships -  for information about how we share vacancies and links to useful websites.

Labour Market Information (LMI) – see documents attached for latest reports and information about local job market information.

Alumni and employers

Do you have a career that would inspire our students? Are you a past student that would like to share your experience of further education, university, training or apprenticeship?

We are always on the lookout for volunteers to visit our school and share their experiences and career routes with our students.

Please get in touch with Mrs J Jackson (details above), if you are interested in supporting our students by sharing your real-life experiences of your successful career path and your knowledge of your industry.