Rationale

Careers education and guidance programmes play a major part in helping young people choose 14-19 pathways that suit their interests, abilities and individual needs. A robust careers programme helps avoid disengagement, puts college learning into a wider and more relevant context, while raising aspirations.

Our programme helps our students to plan and manage their careers effectively, ensuring progression which is ambitious and aspirational. It promotes equality of opportunity, celebrates diversity and challenges stereotypes. The policy is guided by the Gatsby benchmarks and conforms to statutory requirements.

Commitment

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College is committed to providing all students in Years 7-11 with a programme of activities supporting good careers information, advice and guidance. This will be guided by the Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice.

The current careers programme is delivered through a combination of methods. These include for Key Stage 3; morning pastoral time with the use of circle time, teaching within departments and organized trips such as the Big Bang. For year 9 pastoral time leads up to Options Evening. For Key Stage 4 the prgramme is delivered through assemblies, presentations, employer visits, work, experiences of workplaces through some departments, taster days, seminars, workshops, drop down days and 1:1 sessions where needed. Students from any year group have the option to attend planned talks from employers which last year included a wide variety of professions. Events such as Ambition Fortnight which is new for 2019 will compliment what is already in place.

Aims

To help students develop the skills and confidence to make realistic and informed decisions about their future and to manage the transitions from one stage of their education, training and work to the next.

Objectives

• To ensure that students develop the skills and attitudes necessary for success in adult and working life;
• To make students aware of the range of opportunities which are realistically available to them in continued education and training at 14+, 16+ and 18+;
• To equip students with the necessary decision-making skills to manage those same transitions;
• To develop an awareness of the wide variety of education, training and careers opportunities both locally and nationally;
• To encourage students to make good use of the paper-based, virtual and staff resources available to them, in order that they can make informed and appropriate choices throughout their college journey;
• To foster links between the college, local businesses and further/higher education establishments;
• To ensure that wherever possible, all young people leave the college to enter employment, further education or training;
• To maintain a culture of high aspirations; and
• To promote equality of opportunity, celebrate diversity, challenge stereotypes and ensure all students who require any extra assistance and guidance to reach their potential, receive it.

Outcomes

• Students should be able to:
• Assess their achievements, qualities and skills;
• Present this information as appropriate;
• Use this information for personal development;
• Recognise and deal accordingly with influences on their attitudes, values and behaviour in relation to work; and
• Recognise the value and impact their activities at college can have on their future.

Implementation

The college guarantees impartial and independent advice via:

• Access for all students and staff to the Start careers package and other appropriate sources of guidance;
• Using social media, assemblies and our daily bulletin to ensure all students are aware of all open days and events open to them in college and the wider community;
• Promotion of independent websites and speakers;
• Workplace visits;
• University visits;
• Taster sessions;
• Access to a wide variety of external speakers offering advice on post 16 opportunities.
• All staff have a part to play in the implementation of this policy through their role as tutors and as subject specialists.

Resources

Careers information and resources are located in the library, on our website and through social media updates. We also host a range of providers to do whole cohort or small group talks.

Entitlement

Every student at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College is entitled to a thorough, personalised and aspirational programme of careers events throughout their time at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College. They are given support to follow whichever route they choose at options and post 16.

Students have careers advice available through; the taught programme in Key Stage 4, lunch time drop in sessions or 1:1 meetings with our Careers and Aspirations Coordinator, in PEP meetings with the leadership team and with our Lead Learning Mentor.

Parents are welcome to speak to their child’s form tutor, Head of Year, a member of the pastoral team, SENCO, our Careers and Aspirations Coordinator or the Careers Coordinator if they have any questions or concerns about their child’s progress or participation in careers events. They are entitled to have access to information about the options processes – provided via letter, on the college website and at information evenings. They are entitled to information about arranging work experience.

Careers and SEN provision.

Every student with SEN follows the same programme of careers as their peers, with adaption and support from the SEN team where appropriate. Since Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College’s careers programme is primarily focused on individual choice and personal aspirations it is tailored for young people’s needs.

Students who are Pupil Premium, Looked After or have Special Educational Needs will have an interview with our Careers and Aspirations Coordinator Mrs Holland in Year 9 before the options process to enable early identification of any needs and necessary adaptions, as well as to recognise the careers aspirations of young people with additional needs.  If a student has an additional need that current provisions cannot fully address, advice will be sought by our SENCO from the National Careers Service, for guidance on providing the best support.

The SENCO meets with parents/carers to discuss option suitability where their need is likely to have an impact on their choices during the option process.

A large number of events, integrated into the college careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into college to speak to students and/or their parents or carers.

All staff have a duty to play their part in students’ progress through the careers curriculum, for example:

Form tutors monitoring the progress of their tutee’s career aspirations;

Subject teachers linking their curriculum subject to careers and ensuring students realise what skills their subject is promoting, as well as the opportunities a qualification in a subject can provide;

Providing references for an application;

Monitoring progress and conducting one to one interviews to ensure students are on track and assisting them with post-16 apprenticeships or education;

Members of the leadership team ensuring a whole-college focus on careers education and supporting CIAG development;

Coordinating CPD to ensure all relevant staff are trained appropriately with regards to careers.

Staff Training

Opportunities are provided for attending further training courses and these are monitored and reviewed.

Staff careers training – to follow

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