What is it?

“Careers” refers to the careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) provision available to pupils within secondary school. It is delivered through a robust and strategic careers programme, which exposes pupils to multiple opportunities to widen their horizons, experiences and aspirations. As part of this programme, pupils also have access to impartial personal advice and guidance at key transition points.

What does it look like at St Hild’s?

St Hild’s School’s careers programme aims to raise aspirations and equip pupils to realise their potential and be successful in a competitive changing world. Pupils access good quality careers education through dedicated PSHE lessons and links to careers and employability skills are embedded throughout the curriculum. Pupils also have the opportunity to participate in careers events throughout the year, such as our annual Careers Fair as well as numerous opportunities for employer encounters, workplace visits, assemblies and workshops with partners such as Robertsons Civil Engineering. They also receive impartial advice and guidance throughout the careers programme, ensuring that all pathways are equally promoted so that pupils can make an informed choice. Pupils also have access to independent, impartial personal guidance at key transition points.

Careers Education Develop from Year 7 to Year 11

Careers education delivered through PSHE lessons is developed through a spiral curriculum: 

Year 7 – understanding of career, personal skills and strengths and an understanding of green careers (LMI focus)

Year 8 – developing key employability skills such as teamwork and leadership, introduction to labour market information and further development of what is meant by career

Year 9 – post-16 options and GCSE options, use of Xello to support self-awareness such as career matching and learning style quizzes. Further development of labour market information. 

Year 10 – further development of post-16 and post-18 options and employability skills

Year 11 – consolidation of transition options and support for creating CVs

Careers events and experiences are tailored according to the needs of each year group:

Year 7 and 8 – inspire

Year 9 and 10 – reinforce

Year 11 – prepare

How is it explored within the key components of: careers, PSHE, curriculum, co-curricular/enrichment (NEAT experience) and the universal offer (assemblies, form time etc)?

Careers and economic education is delivered through dedicated PSHE lessons, through a spiral curriculum. Topics covered include employability skills, identification of personal strengths and skills and how these can support you in your career development, labour market information and post-16 and post-18 options. Careers education is also complemented by various career events and experiences throughout the year, across all year groups, including Provider Legislation Access (PAL) events. This includes visits to workplaces, employer engagements within school, careers fairs and visits to local universities. Speakers also visit assemblies throughout the year.  Career links are also embedded throughout the curriculum.

How is it adapted for vulnerable learners?

The careers programme is personalised and adapted to meet the needs of all learners, including vulnerable learners. Use of the Tracker  identifies those who are at risk of NEET and vulnerable learners and these pupils are considered as a priority, to be involved in careers events, workshops and employer engagement activities. Vulnerable learners are also supported by specific organisations such as Learning Curve. Vulnerable learners are also supported by the local authority at Year 11 through Family Support Workers.

Parent (carer)/pupil/staff voice

Regular feedback is collected through:

• Parents/Carers: Surveys and engagement from Careers Adviser at parents’ evenings.
• Pupils: Pupil voice is collected after careers events to capture the impact. Pupil voice is also captured following personal guidance appointments to capture the impact of provision
• Staff: Staff voice is collected to inform professional development sessions to ensure they are confident in speaking to pupils about career pathways, particularly technical education