Careers (CEIAG)

At Walbottle, we aim to equip all of our students with the knowledge and skill they need to make positive choices about their own studies and pathways so that they can all achieve their future goals and aspirations.

Our Careers Team

At Walbottle, there are several different members of staff who work as part of the Careers Team to ensure students, parents & careers, teaching staff and employers & businesses can access the information they need. Please find the details below, including the Roles and Responsibilities of individual members of staff for the academy year.

Careers Programme

At Walbottle Academy we strive to support to every student to achieve and aim to raise their aspirations to believe in themselves. Through high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance programme, our students are supported to make realistic and informed decisions about their career pathways, to have high aspirations and to support them with achieving personal success and future economic wellbeing.

We support students in making well-informed decisions about significant study or career choices, by providing access to differentiated, impartial and independent information and guidance about the range of options (including academic, vocational, apprenticeships) that are most likely to help them to achieve their ambitions. By helping students with decisions at crucial stages, informing them of all their options and introducing them to employers, we aim to prepare them for the world of work regardless of the pathway they choose.

We have a careers programme designed to support our students at all stages of their learning journey. This programme will provide our students with the knowledge, inspiration and ability to take ownership of their own career action plans which will enable them to succeed in their chosen career paths. Our careers programme supports the achievement of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks as detailed in the Department for Education’s Statutory Guidance, January 2018.

Careers Programme – Aims

Our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Programme will:

• provide high quality independent and impartial careers advice to all students which raises aspirations and motivates them to consider a broad range of careers to fulfil their potential. By the age of 16 all students will have received at least one independent guidance interview.
• empower young people to plan and manage their own futures
• give careers and labour market information and advice that is up to date
• respond to the needs of each learner, supporting inclusion, challenging stereotyping and promoting equality of opportunity
• provide opportunities to work in partnership with employers to inspire students through real-life contact with the world of work. All students will participate in at least one meaningful employer encounter each year and have at least one experience of a workplace by the age of 16.
• provide opportunities to access a range of further and higher education institutions, training providers and others to ensure students are informed of all available pathways including technical education qualifications and apprenticeships
• develop enterprise and employability skills including skills for self-employment
• support students at key transition points

Core Careers Offer

All students at Walbottle Academy are entitled to receive a programme of careers education, work- related learning, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG and WRL). This will be delivered at appropriate times to support decision making. Our core careers offer for all students includes:

• Access to independent careers guidance by a qualified professional – at least one interview by the age of 16
• Advice and support tailored to the needs of each student
• Activities which seek to challenge stereotypical thinking and raise aspirations
• Subject lessons linked to careers
• Employer encounters – at least one each year including STEM employers
• Experience of the workplace – at least one experience by the age of 16
• Opportunities to speak with/visit a range of further education, higher education and training providers
• Access to careers information via VMG, bulletins, careers library and online resources
• Life Skills lessons
• Promotion of local labour market information
• Parental support and guidance

The quality of Careers Education is monitored and evaluated annually by the Deep Experience Lead (Mr Harrison), Careers Leader (Mr Brown) and in collaboration with the subject delivery team, the Pastoral Team, independent Careers Advisors, and the wider Senior Leadership Team of the school. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Annual review with SLT
• Observation of CEIAG activities, including the delivery of VMG sessions and Life lessons.
• Lesson Visit information across the curriculum. Is talk of careers or aspirations visible?
• Student evaluation via student surveys, questionnaires and focus groups
• VMG Tutor feedback
• The views of parents are sought via school surveys/questionnaires. Every child’s parents will be asked for feedback at least once in the academic year.
• The view of Higher Education providers and employers is sought through informal discussion and evaluation following contributions to academy events
• The number, quality and impact of careers interviews is analysed though data, destinations data, observations and evaluating action plans.

The review and evaluation for Careers Education informs the planning and implementation of the programme, ensuring that what we deliver is best tailored to the needs of all of our students.

Provider Access Policy

Walbottle Academy offers opportunities for providers to meet with students. Please contact a member of our Careers Team to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

Here is a copy of our Provider Access Policy which complies with Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Careers Leader

Northern Education Trust Careers Leader: Mr Philip Carr – Director of Curriculum

Walbottle Academy Careers Leader:

Miss H Jordan – Associate Assistant Principal
Telephone: 0191 2678221
[email protected]

 

The information on this page is due for review again in September 2020 by Miss H Jordan, Mr M Wood (Principal), and Mr P Carr (Director of Curriculum).