Careers Education

"Empowering all to make appropriate choices and become happy, fulfilled individuals who are confident members of a modern society."

The main content of our Key Stage 3 and 4 careers education programme is delivered through six focus weeks, one per half term. During these weeks, the form time and assembly time is devoted to careers education. Each week is linked to a learning area of the CDI's Career Development Framework. In addition, opportunities across the curriculum are provided to the pupils, with the aim of increasing their aspiration and understanding of the world ahead of them. 

 

Half Term 1 

Year

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7

Introduction to Career Development Framework

Sources of help- Introduction to Unifrog

Career influencers- personality, interests, work environment

Career influencers- Unifrog quizzes

Trying new things

8

What are skills?

Why are skills  important?

Recording skills

Career influencers- Disability

Career influencers- Family

9

Career influencers- Personality quiz

Career influencers- Affluence  

Career influencers- Uncertainty avoidance

Career influencers- Locus control

Sources of help- Careers team

10

What teachers want to say

The importance of work experience

Work shadowing

Writing a formal letter

Sources of help- Careers team

11

What pathway next?

Career influencers- Requirements

Career influencers- Mission

Career influencers- Job satisfaction

Sources of help- Careers team

 

Half Term 2

 

Year

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7

Workplace culture

Types of workplace culture

Toxic work culture

Careers Fair

Human resources

8

Sources of help

Post-14

Compulsory

Post-14

Recommended

Decision making

Careers Fair

 

9

Post-16 options

A-levels

Post-16   options

Apprenticeships

Post-16   options

BTECs

Post-16 options

T-levels

Careers Fair

10

Post-16

Prospectus

Post-16

Open evenings

Qualification

levels

Post-16

Taster days

Careers Fair

11

Post-18 options

Higher Education

Post-18   options

University

Post-18 options 

Apprenticeships

You and next year

Careers Fair

 

Half Term 3

 

Year

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7

My purpose?

My wants?

My journey?

My options?

My Choice?

8

Set-backs

Case study: Senior Lecturer

Case study: Environment Officer

Case study: Logistics Supervisor

Case study: General Manager

9

Rewards and challenges

"Find a job you love...."

Case study: Senior Staff Nurse

Case study: Health Visitor

Case study: Stunt Co-ordinator

10

Career planning process

Ready and willing?

Rational decision making?

Knowledge to make a decision?

Decision making techniques

11

Work to live or live to work?

Want do I want from work?

What can I offer work?

Perceived vs legitimate opportunities?

What does the work offer and need?

 

Half Term 4

 

Year

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7

Head of Sixth Form

What is initiative?

Showing initiative in school

Initiative plus   innovation

Examples of initiative and innovation

8

What is a role model?

Head of Sixth Form

Example of a role model

Being a role model

Do we need role models?

 

9

What is an entrepreneur?

Historical entre-preneurs

Head of Sixth Form

Present day entrepreneurs

Social entrepreneurs

10

The success iceberg

Do GCSE grades matter?

Procrastinate?

Head of Sixth Form

Importance of super-curricular

11

Pushing your comfort zone

Benefit of higher GCSE results

Introduction to LinkedIn

Networking

Head of  Sixth Form

 

Half Term 5

 

Year

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7

Everything in moderation

Balance wheel

Life-long learning

Goal setting

Mental health

8

Life roles

Balancing life roles

Trying our best

Well-informed decisions

Flexible working

9

Budgeting and saving

Charity

Contract types I

Contract types II

Voluntary work

10

Protected characterisitcs

Protected charateristics: Case studies

Equality Act 'criticisms'

How does discrimination feel?

Dealing with discrimination

 

Half Term 6

 

Year

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7

Robots and us: A brief history

Robots and us: Healthcare

What skills will be needed?

Robots and us: The augmented us

Robots and us: The future of work

8

What is DofE?

Skills section

Physical section

Voluntary section

Signing up

9

Careers and the climate crisis

Climate change: Too true to be good

Careers to solve the climate crisis: Nature-based

Careers to solve climate crisis: Built environment

Careers to solve the climate crisis: Creativity and innovation

10*

World of Work week: Introduction and work shadow briefing

Work shadowing

Work shadowing

Considering options

Mock interview briefing

* Year 10 World of Work week for additional Careers input in this week

At Key Stage 5, Careers Education is delivered once every two weeks by the Head of Sixth Form Progression and Personal Development.

  Year 12

Half Term 1

VESPA Study Skills Programme - V for Vision, E for Effort 

Using Unifrog to research options 

Reflecting and recording skills 

Curating your online presence 

Introduction to Work Experience

Researching and applying for Outreach Schemes 

Half Term 2

VESPA Study Skills Programme - S for Systems, P for Practice, A for Attitude 

Making the most of a Careers Fair 

Identifying work experience opportunities 

Approaching employers

Identifying your skills and strengths

Half Term 3

Finding a work experience placement 

VESPA Study Skills programme - consolidation A for Attitude 

Degree Apprenticeships - what they are

Other specific post-18 pathways 

Half Term 4

Budgeting 

Securing a work experience placement 

Making the most of work experience 

VESPA Study Skills Programme - E for Effort, P for Practice using skills to prepare for exams 

Half Term 5

Work Experience 

University Visit

Post 18 Preparation Day

Half Term 6

Post-18 pathways support

Presenting your skills in an application

Understanding application processes

 

 

Year 13

Half Term 1

VESPA Study Skills Programme - review your goals, focus on effort 

Interview skills 

Support for specific post-18 options 

Writing a CV and covering letter

Attending open days 

Half Term 2

VESPA Study Skills Programme - how to practice 

Tackling assessment centres

Creating a professional online presence

Student bank accounts - managing your money 

Making choices 

Half Term 3

VESPA Study Skills Programme– revision and study skills 

Identifying bursaries and grants

Understanding student finance 

Half Term 4

VESPA Study Skills Programme - staying positive 

Application support 

Understanding the labour market

Managing stress