Careers and Employability

CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE

At Haberdasher’s Knight’s Academy we are committed to providing high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), to ensure that our students have all the necessary information and knowledge to enable them to make well informed decisions about their future career pathways.

The Government’s 2017 strategy is built around the Gatsby Benchmarks, which provides a framework for our careers provision in school. We have a statutory duty to ensure that students are provided with independent and impartial careers guidance, contact with employers, mentors and coaches who can inspire them to achieve, opportunities to access a range of motivational activities, such as employer talks, careers events and visits and that as a school we have a clear policy and framework by which to measure outcomes.

Our Career Development Plan is embedded within the whole school curriculum and we aim to help students develop themselves through careers and work-related education; learn about careers and the world of work; and develop their career management and employability skills.

Information for Careers Education

Careers Programme: Year 7

In Years 7 and 8, students look at their achievements, skills and qualities and investigate different job roles and the value of work in society. They also consider ways in which the world of work is changing and the skills that will be needed in the future. Students in Year 7 are introduced to ‘job families’ using Start. They learn about STEM careers and take part in Robot Workshops by Thales Engineering.

Careers Programme: Year 8

In Year 8, students are introduced to occupational roles, lifestyle and income, using Barclays Life Skills. Tutor time aims to help students to understand more about themselves (self-development), know where to look for useful information (careers exploration) and plan for the future (career management). All students use Fast Tomato to help them make a decision on their GCSE preferences that are appropriate to their interests, talents and proposed career.

Careers Programme: Year 9

In Year 9, students look at decision-making as a preparation for making informed choices about their Key Stage 4 options, together with sessions on equal opportunities, transition skills, stereotypes and CV writing. They have lessons on how to do effective job searches, and are introduced to software programmes to help develop their understanding of Career Guidance and Information. Students research jobs and courses that interest them and find out about the entry requirements to help them to decide on their Key Stage 4 choices.

Careers Programme: Year 10

In Year 10, Careers Education takes place during Tutor Time, leading up to a two-week Work Experience placement which is the main focus for the year. Students spend time preparing for Work Experience by writing letters of application and having mock interviews with local employers, as well as learning about health and safety and workplace etiquette. Students also start to explore their Post-16 options and learn about applying for jobs and interview skills; local labour market information; and apprenticeships. This gives students the opportunity to gain a broad understanding of how apprenticeships work and how they can choose this particular pathway to their respective future education and careers.

Careers Programme: Year 11

In Year 11, the emphasis is on planning for the future. Students look at all the options open to them: Sixth Form, college, employment with training and apprenticeships. They use Fast Tomato to investigate career pathways and local labour market information. All students have an individual guidance interview, with an independent careers advisor from LevFearn Consultancy, to discuss their ideas and to draw up an action plan.

Careers Programme: Years 12 and 13

In the Sixth Form, all students, whether they are considering higher education, employment or a gap year, are offered information on options through their form tutor, the Head of Sixth Form and our Independent Careers Adviser. We invite representatives from Higher Education, employment and training to talk to students about the options available to them and to support their university or employment applications. Students also attend a Higher Education Fair.

Independent Careers Guidance

LevFearn Consultancy deliver a Careers Guidance service to Knight’s Academy students, particularly those in Year 11 and the Sixth Form, to offer impartial information, advice and guidance.

Our Independent Careers Advisor is in school once or twice a week to offer advice on career choices, applying for jobs, apprenticeships, college courses, training or university. This is followed up by an individual Action Plan. Appointments are arranged through the school Careers Lead.

Work Experience

Work experience gives students an opportunity to see how different the world of work is from life at school and the chance to test themselves in an adult environment.

Year 10 – Students have a two-week placement in the Spring term: giving them the opportunity to develop their develop their personal and social skills; prepare for the change from school to adult working life; improve their employability skills; and broaden their career ideas and plan for the future. Through Tutor Time activities, they develop a range of personal skills that will be useful in the future – practice in writing letters to employers, attending interviews and understanding the importance of health and safety issues and workplace etiquette. All placements are registered with Lewisham Council’s Work Experience Team, who carry out the necessary insurance and health and safety checks on our behalf.
Year 12 - Students have the opportunity to arrange a week’s work experience, or take part in a voluntary week working with local community organisations/charities. A week is set aside during the summer term for Year 12 students to undertake work experience, or volunteering. Both universities and employers value the skills and insight developed during a recent period of work experience and several HE courses require that students have some experience of the type of work involved. They also recognise the benefits of taking part in a voluntary capacity in the community and this is a useful addition to the student’s UCAS Personal Statement and/or CV.

Parents and carers

At Knights Academy we work closely with parents and carers to support their children to make informed career choices.

Parents and carers are encouraged to attend options evenings and selected careers events.

Parents and carers are always welcome to contact our Careers Lead, (details below) to seek advice and ask any questions they might have regarding career pathways.

Measuring the Impact of our Careers Programme

Our Careers Lessons are evaluated both by the Assistant Principal in charge of Curriculum and the Careers Lead, using teacher and student feedback.

The LevFearn Consultancy service in school is monitored and measured using feedback questionnaires and at termly review meetings.

The impact of careers events and activities is measured using student and parent/carer feedback questionnaires. Results are shared and published as appropriate.

Both Year 10 and Year 12 Work Experience, are evaluated using feedback questionnaires, with results published and shared as appropriate.

The Careers Programme is assessed using the Compass Careers Benchmark Tool.

Review Date: 30th September 2023

Contact

Further information about Knight's Careers Programme can be obtained from the school Careers Lead:

Mr Jamie Cole, email: j.cole@habstrustsouth.org.uk or telephone 0208 461 9240

Haberdashers' Knights Academy