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Careers Programme Information

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Whitley Academy endeavours to prepare students for the future.

Careers Programme Information

Home > Learning  > Curriculum and Subjects > Careers Programme Information

Whitley Academy endeavours to prepare students for the future.

Future employees are going to have to be innovative in their approach to solving problems, they will have to be people that can take the initiative, who can cope with uncertainty and change. They are going to have to be able to communicate well and work well in teams. They will have to be flexible and prepared to reinvent themselves in order to continue to be employed. Therefore we have a planned programme of activities to enable students to gain the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and attributes required to make informed choices about their 14 -19 pathways and to enable them to manage their careers and sustain employment through-out their lives.

Careers Education is at the heart of our Opening Minds curriculum with our competences and skills strongly related to those the National Careers and Enterprise Service state employers are looking for. Careers Education is also delivered through PSHE, tutor times and assemblies as part of our ‘Be the Best You Can Be’ programme.

The Careers Lead for 2020-2021 is Mr Billyeald (Assistant Vice Principal).

As part of our ‘Be the Best You Can Be’ programme delivered through tutor times and assemblies, students are encouraged to have high aspirations by exploring future pathways and developing the skills needed to be successful in the workplace.  We encourage all students to use the www.u-explore.co.uk website and START to explore different careers and to track any actions they need to take to help them to pursue careers they are interested in. Students have been emailed their START logins and Passwords.

The programme is designed to support students with the key decisions they need to make at each stage of their school journey to ensure they are developing the skills and attributes needed to be successful employees in the future.

Year Group Main Focus
7 Students should:

  • Be able to question themselves and others about the career paths available to them and the influences behind their aspirations.
  • Be able to explore, using a number of resources, areas of potential interest in terms of career pathways (via class discussions and research).
  • Be able to identify which skills and qualifications are required for certain career pathways.
  • Become aware of the skills unique to them and their own personal strengths, interests and influences.
  • Become aware of the connections between their individual capabilities and interests and their aspirations.
  • Recognise that the skills they require can be developed over time through training, education and life experience.
8 Students should:

  • Be able to identify the skills and qualifications they need to pursue their interests.
  • Consider how they are preparing themselves for future employment and the importance of developing a range of skills.
  • Become aware of the connections between their individual capabilities and interests and their aspirations
  • Recognise that the skills they require can be developed over time through training, education and life experience.
9 Students should:

  • Be able to confidently explain different career paths and the different skills and qualifications they need to pursue different areas.
  • Be able to make options choices based on future career aspirations.
  • Be able to explain how they are preparing themselves for future employment.
  • Be able to identify where the gaps are between their individual capabilities and interests and their aspiration careers and suggest ways to close these gaps.
10 Students should:

  • Be aware of the different pathways available to them at post-16 and how these relate to different careers paths.
  • Be able to explain the major employment sectors in the UK and the local area and how different industries include multiple career pathways.
  • Be able to identify where they meet employability skills and qualifications to use in applications.
  • Be able to identify where the gaps are between their individual capabilities and interests and their aspiration careers and suggest ways to close these gaps.
  • Be able to construct a CV and talk about it confidently.
  • Be aware of what makes a good and bad interview.
  • Be able to explain what they need to do to prepare for an interview.
11 Students should:

  • Be aware of the different pathways available to them at post-16 and how these relate to different careers paths.
  • Be confident in choosing appropriate pathways at post-16 to enable them to pursue their aspirations and realistic careers.
  • Be able to identify where they meet employability skills and qualifications to use in applications.
  • Be able to complete an application form and construct a CV that is fit for purpose.
Post 16 Students should:

  • Be aware of the different pathways available to them at beyond Post 16 study and how these relate to different careers paths.
  • Be confident in using the UCAS application and track service to enable them to pursue aspirational and realistic degree pathways.
  • Use this ambition of accessing a degree to allow them to pursue aspirational and realistic careers.
  • Be able to identify where they meet employability skills and qualifications to use in applications.
  • Develop interview skills, such as presentational skills and challenging and rigorous questioning.
  • Be confident in leading the development of students in the lower skills in terms of their interpersonal skills.
  • Be using U-explore through mentoring and support from form tutors.
  • Be actively seeking work experience and volunteering opportunities.
  • We also offer a wide range of opportunities for students to interact with employees from a range of companies and encourage guest speakers to come and tell our students about their chosen careers.  We have strong links with the University of Warwick and regularly run visits to both universities and workplaces for our students.
  • Talks: All students, from year 7 to year 13, will have the opportunity to attend talks and presentations by speakers representing a wide range of professions and sectors throughout the school year. These are given by representatives from companies and aim to inform on the work, opportunities, training and routes in to a variety of careers.
  • Students in Year 12 are encouraged and supported to arrange appropriate work experience placements during the school holidays.
  • Workshops: Representatives from the world of enterprise and business come in and run workshops on interview skills, CV writing, application letter writing and the hiring process in general. In Year 12 students are able to go through rigorous mock interviews to prepare them thoroughly for what lies ahead.

If you would be interested in coming to speak about your career or would like to offer the opportunity for our students to visit your workplace to see first hand what the job entails, please do contact us at careers@whitleyacademy.com.

Christine Evans is our Careers Advisor and works at Whitley Academy one day a week.  She provides Impartial Careers Information, Advice and Guidance to our students through one-to-one interviews and being available at our Options Evenings for consultation regarding subject choices and career aspirations.

Christine Evans meets all our Year 11 students for at least one individual careers interview during the year to help them consolidate their career ideas and she also offers support to students applying for college courses and apprenticeships.

Christine Evans can be contacted via email at careersadvisor@whitleyacademy.com.

To review our CEIAG (Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance) policy, please visit our policies page.

This statement sets out Whitley Academy’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education of training offer. This complies with Whitley Academy’s legal obligation under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Pupil Entitlement
All pupils in years 8-13 are entitled:

  • to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
  • to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
  • to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

Management of Provider Access Requests Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact the main school reception via email [admin@whitleyacademy.com] with the subject line ‘FAO Careers Lead’.

Opportunities for Access
A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers including:

  • The annual Careers, Further and Higher Education Fair for years 10-13. The date of this is published at least a term in advance on the school website.
  • As part of the assembly programme for years 8-13.

Please contact the Careers Lead to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

Premises and facilities
The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature with the Careers Lead for inclusion in our Careers Library, which is managed by the school librarian. The Careers Library is available to all students at lunch and break times.

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