Kepier Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Policy

Produced by:

Deputy Headteacher (Careers Leader), Mr A Warkman

Reviewed and Ratified by:

The Headteacher

Date Ratified:

September 2023

Review Date:

Autumn Term 2024

Version Number:

20230911

Location:

G:\Shared drives\Whole School - Policies

Circulation:

Staff, Learners, Providers

Statutory or Discretionary:

Statutory (to be published)

Introduction

Kepier is an academy in Houghton-le-Spring providing for over 1000 learners from years 7-11.  The school motto ‘Inspire, Challenge, Support’ underpins every aspect of school life with Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) being no exception.  Our mission is to ensure every learner fulfils their potential and is given every opportunity to raise their aspirations through high quality information, advice and guidance, as well as frequent and meaningful interactions with local employers and local further and higher education institutions.

Our Aims

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) at Kepier helps young people develop the knowledge and skills they need to make successful choices, manage transition in learning and move into work. CEIAG is statutory from year 8 but we begin from year 7 in order to raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes and encourage ALL learners to consider a wide range of careers.  A copy of the statutory guidance ‘Careers Guidance and access for education and training providers’ (Sept 2022)  can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1103188/Careers_statutory_guidance_September_2022.pdf

All learners at Kepier are entitled to receive a full programme of careers education, which is delivered through lessons, activities and events and guest speakers.

During their time at Kepier learners will:

-        understand themselves, their interests, likes and dislikes, what they are good at and

         how this affects the choices they make;

-        find out about different courses, what qualifications they might need and what      

         opportunities there might be;

-        develop the skills they may need for working life;

-        make realistic, but ambitious choices about courses and jobs;

-        be able to make effective applications for jobs, training and further and higher

         education;

-        develop interview skills;

-        improve confidence;

-        receive high quality information, advice and guidance by a fully qualified and

         experienced careers advisor.        

Coaching

Coaches deliver aspects of careers education through the coaching programme and they advertise and discuss opportunities for learners through the daily notices.  Learners are told who to contact and approach to take advantage of opportunities that might interest them.

Guidance

CEIAG education is delivered through years 7-11 within PSHCE lessons and is supported by the careers advisor (provided through an extensive SLA with CareersWave) and the Careers Leader who is a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Guidance is also given across the curriculum in KS3 and 4.  Careers Focus sessions are written into the programme.

Trips & Visits

Several trips and visits are organised to local colleges and providers along with businesses and places of work so that learners can experience the world of work and further training.  A number of departments in school organise their own trips and visits with a careers focus.

Careers activities are provided by a number of department areas right across the curriculum.

Careers Interviews

Every learner receives as many career interviews as they need in order to ensure they are fully informed of their next steps.  Learners know who the careers advisor is and are given the opportunities to access the service.  The careers advisor (provided by an extensive SLA with CareerWave) is fully qualified and has extensive knowledge of the local labour market and other local providers.

 

Leadership and Staffing

There is a whole school approach to CEIAG at Kepier, with a dedicated team leading and  managing CEIAG as well as administration support helping to coordinate the provision day-to-day.  The curriculum aspects of careers are mainly delivered by PSHCE teachers who deliver taught sessions on careers and preparations of next steps.  Curriculum departments arrange subject specific work related visits or activities.  Coaches (tutors) in school also play an important role in advertising career opportunities and events through the daily notices and through the coaching programme each day.

Key Roles (see appendix 1)

Implementation of Careers Guidance

The Careers Programme at Kepier supports and aims to achieve the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks which lay the foundation for strong careers education.

The following table is an overview of the Gatsby Benchmarks:

BENCHMARK 1

A STABLE CAREERS PROGRAMME

Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.

BENCHMARK 2

LEARNING FROM CAREER AND LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION

Every student, and their parents, should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities.  They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.

BENCHMARK 3

ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT

Students have different career guidance needs at different stages.  Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student.  A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

BENCHMARK 4

LINKING CURRICULUM LEARNING TO CAREERS

All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers.

STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.

BENCHMARK 5

ENCOUNTERS WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace.  This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

BENCHMARK 6

EXPERIENCES OF WORKPLACES

Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

BENCHMARK 7

ENCOUNTERS WITH FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them.  This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.

BENCHMARK 8

PERSONAL GUIDANCE

Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers advisor, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level.  These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made.  They should be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

At Key Stage 3 most of the careers education takes place during PSHCE lessons and is delivered by the staff within this department.  However, a range of trips and visits through the curriculum also give Key Stage 3 learners meaningful encounters with employers and further/higher education institutions.  This is particularly the case in STEM related subjects.

At Key Stage 4, careers education forms a separate module within the PSHCE programme for years 10 and 11.

Year 7

Learners focus on future plans and aspirations and how the choices they make now can affect their future. Learners are introduced to CVs; exploring what a CV is and how to write one.  They begin to explore the options that are available to them at 14 and post-16 in order to prepare for the decisions they are expected to make at these key points.

Year 8

Learners focus on the world of work, looking at employment, unemployment and labour market information to gain a greater understanding of the area in which they live and what is available to them locally and nationally.  Using time effectively is discussed as it is a very valuable skill to have for the learners to succeed at school and then continue to use in their adult life in higher education and employment.  Learners are encouraged to reflect upon their achievements and progress, as well as how to use their time productively to contribute and enhance their CVs.

Year 9

Learners focus on self-assessment, career paths and post-14 options.  An options evening is held for learners and their parents/carers which is then followed by classwork designed specifically to aid students in the selection of their options at KS4.  This includes career exploration work, what the entry requirements are and skills required for certain job roles as well as looking at their own achievements.

Year 10

Learners focus on what they have achieved so far, further career exploration and considering their next steps.  In year 10 learners are taken for taster sessions at the different local colleges and sixth forms to experience the facilities, subjects and lessons in a post-16 establishment.  This preparation helps them to reach decisions about what they would like to do after year 11.

Year 11

Learners focus on post-16 options and the application process.  Learners participate in sessions from local colleges and training providers to gather information to help them make a decision regarding their future after year 11.  We look at work and pay, and how both are connected.  Learners receive a careers interview either from the Careers Advisor, provided through an SLA with CareerWave or Connexions Personal Advisor, which allows them to talk about what they would like to do and how to work towards achieving their goal or advice and guidance if they are struggling to decide on future plans.

All year groups have the opportunity to attend workplace and industry visits which happen throughout the academic year.  These will be promoted to all learners in assembly and coaching time as the visits offer a valuable insight into employment.

 

Careers Evening

For years 10 and 11 a number of education and training providers attend a careers evening, to allow learners (along with their parents/carers) to meet with and discuss their future with colleges and training providers.

Careers Fayre

In October each year Kepier hosts a Careers Fayre for Year 10 and Year 11.  This event is attended by local college providers as well as key employers from the local area.  A range of other training providers are also in attendance. Year 11 are given the opportunity to engage with local providers and consider their future destinations.  Learners are encouraged to sign up and apply for places with colleges, training establishments or apprenticeship providers.

Together for Children Careers Service

Together for Children hold interviews with targeted individuals throughout the year and work with our more vulnerable learners. They also support with the confirmation of destinations for our leavers.

 

Careers Advisor

Careers interviews are conducted not only by Together for Children but also by our fully qualified and impartial Careers Advisor.  The advisor is provided by CareerWave, a local careers education company, of which the school holds an extensive service level agreement.  CareerWave works closely with the school and learners to ensure high quality information, advice and guidance.  All interviews are held in a private room and information from these meetings is confidential.  An individual action plan for each learner is produced following each meeting.  All year 11 learners are guaranteed an interview, with vulnerable learners being prioritised.  After this, learner interviews are allocated on a needs basis.  Learners are free to request an interview at any time and one will be allocated as soon as possible.   If a parent or carer would like to be present for the interview this can be arranged.  However, the time is for the learner to discuss their own ideas and aspirations and will be conducted as such.

 

Additional Resources

The local colleges send a selection of their prospectuses which are freely available to learners.  A number of free careers websites are used in guidance interviews and guidance lessons and learners are encouraged to access them in their own time too.  There is a dedicated space in the Learning Resource Centre where resources are made available and regularly updated to reflect the trends within the local Labour Market Information (LMI).   Department areas display careers information for their own subject areas and many to display to learners where their subject can take learners with regards to their next steps.

 

Trips and Visits

A number of visits take place throughout the year to allow learners across all age groups to visit places of work, companies, training workshops and post 16 providers e.g. colleges and universities.  Visits are organised through different department areas and give insights into careers opportunities and workplaces linked to different courses of study.

 

Equal Opportunities

Careers education is provided to all learners via our carefully planned curriculum.  Learners are encouraged to explore career paths that suit their interests, skills and strengths.  All learners are provided with the same opportunities and diversity is celebrated as we try to discourage stereotypical attitudes.

The careers team supports the whole school equal opportunities policy, and endeavours to implement it in the following ways.

-        Equal opportunities lessons.

-        Careful selection of posters and display material.

-        By encouraging all learners to prepare to support themselves financially.

-        By encouraging learners to consider all options including non-traditional careers/roles.

-        By avoiding the use of one gender and gender specific job titles, e.g. using she/he;  

         waiter / waitress.

-        By making every effort to give girls and boys equal opportunities to speak, offer

         opinions and answer questions in lessons.

-        By encouraging mixed gender groups for group work.

-        Ensuring equal access to information for all students of all abilities.

We recognise that courses and employment opportunities are available and suitable for people of varying skills, abilities and personal qualities.  We encourage learners to consider these aspects when looking at their options post-16.  If a learner does not have an academic ability for the career/course she/he has in mind, we try to help them to identify this and plan accordingly.  We emphasise what they can do and the skills they do have.

Partnerships

Parents and Carers

Parental involvement is encouraged at all stages.  Parents / Carers are kept up to date with careers related information through letters, newsletters and at open evenings.  Local LMI data is available on the website through the CEIAG section.   Parents are also welcome to attend careers interviews.

A number of opportunities are provided for parents to engage with decisions their child makes with regards to their future, for example, open evenings, consultation evenings and apprentice pop up shops.  All parents’ evenings and information evenings in Year 9, 10 and 11 are attended by a wide range of local providers.

 

Links with the Community, Outside Agencies and Businesses.

Kepier has a vast bank of links with businesses in the local area and beyond, for example; TRW , Carillion, JTL, BL Hairdressing, Nissan, Sunderland Software City, Army, Navy, RAF, Upstream Communications, Gentoo, Fusion Contact Centre, Sale Cycle and Orange Bus.  We also work closely with all the colleges in the local area including: East College Durham, Durham Sixth Form, City of Sunderland.  

Where appropriate, speakers are invited into the school to enhance and enrich the experiences of our learners, and we also have an ongoing partnership agreement with Connexions.

Kepier works very closely with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and is involved in the Enterprise Advisor Network that links schools with local businesses to support their CEIAG provision.  Kepier has an Enterprise Advisor from Benicia Homes and the advisor attends events and activities in school as well as taking a more strategic role in helping shape the careers programme and overall provision.

 

Good Careers Guidance Award

Kepier was awarded the Gold Inspiring IAG quality award for careers education.  It is a careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) quality award, nationally validated by The Quality in Careers Standard (QiCS).  It provides a good practice framework for organisations that work with young people, and is recognition of high quality CEIAG. This award was reviewed in 2021.

The award covers six areas.

1.     Management and Leadership.

2.     Design and delivery of CEIAG.

3.     Working with partners.

4.     Information and communication.

5.     Outcomes for young people.

6.     Supporting Parents / Carers.

   

Contacts

If you have any queries, please contact the Deputy Headteacher and school Careers Leader on 0191 5128960 or via warkmana@kepier.com

 

Useful Links

The DfE Statutory Guidance for schools on their careers guidance duty (March 2015) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/748474/181008_schools_statutory_guidance_final/pdf

Good Career Guidance (The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, 2014) http://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/programmes/good-career-guidance

 

The CDI Framework – a framework for careers, employability and enterprise education (November 2015) http://www.thecdi.net/write/BP556-CDI_Framework-web.pdf

 

 

 

Appendix 1

Key Roles

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