Careers Programme

We understand that it is important to develop yourself through careers, employability and enterprise education, as well as learning about careers and the world of work and developing your career management and employability skills. Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) forms an integral part of student life at Swanshurst School. We want to encourage all students to consider a broad range of careers and pathways that are right for them and use contacts from the world of work and further and higher education to help them understand where different choices can lead them in the future.

To support you with making decisions about your progression pathways and to investigate different careers you will take part in different activities and events to help you with this from Year 7 through to Year 13 which might include a visit to a university or attend a presentation/workshop with an employer. Resources to help you with your decisions can be found in the careers section on Firefly and also here on the school website. We continue to update the resources on Firefly and since March 2020 these now include virtual experiences that you can take part in. Opportunities that have already been added include virtual work experience; opportunities to take part in virtual led employer programmes; virtual university and college open day; virtual university subject days as well as opportunities to engage with apprenticeship providers.  Where possible you will continue to engage in activities that include face to face experiences with employers such as preparation for the world of work; employability skills and work experience. We would encourage all of our students to continue to take part in these opportunities and to use the resources available to widen their knowledge and experiences of the world of work; progression routes and careers.

You will have access to different online resources to help you with your decision making and to be able to record your skills and experiences. Below are just a few examples of the activities that are in place to support you with making decisions about your progression.

Careers provision within the school and sixth form is mapped and gapped against the DfE Careers guidance and access for education and training providers, Statutory Guidance 2018 and also mapped against the Gatsby Benchmarks 1-8 and currently being mapped against the new CDI Framework for careers, employability and enterprise education. Every school should be using the Gatsby Benchmarks to improve their careers provision and these benchmarks are:

1. A stable careers programme;
2. Learning from career and labour market information;
3. Addressing the needs of each student;
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers;
5. Encounters with employers and employees;
6. Experiences of work places;
7. Encounters with further and higher education;
8. Personal Guidance

Access Policy & How to Contact

The Baker Clause (introduced as an amendment to the Technical and Further Education Act 2017) stipulates that schools must allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 8-13 to discuss non-academic routes that are available to them.  As part of the Baker Clause we welcome colleges and training providers to speak to students in years 8 -13 to discuss non-academic routes.  In addition we also welcome the same opportunities for our year 7 students. Please contact debbie.beckford@swans.bham.sch.uk for further information.

The programme is reviewed annually and we assess the impact of the careers programme with feedback from students, teachers and employers so that we can continue to provide and improve the quality of our careers provision. Students destinations are tracked to ensure that they can successfully move onto the most appropriate pathway for them. Download our information provider policy. 

For further information please contact the school and ask for Mrs Beckford, Careers Leader.

Employers

Employers play a vital role in ensuring that we offer a careers programme which prepares our young people for the wold of work and the confidence to make progression decisions that are right for them.  Young people need access to quality experiences in order to prepare them for the opportunities, experiences and challenges that the future world of work has to offer.  

• So can you given an hour – face to face or virtually?  
• Would you be able to provide a short video to help our link curriculum learning to careers?  
• Are you to offer a work experience?
• Do you have resources that you wish to share with us?  

No matter whether you are a small, medium or large company; the CEO or an apprentice; all of you will have an influence on our learners. You do not need to have had previous experience in working with young people – sharing your own experience and your own career journey will be invaluable in helping young people to shape their thinking about their career path.  If you are interested in working with us please email: debbie.beckford@swans.bham.sch.uk.

Employers who take an active role in the careers process of young people can realise a whole host of benefits, from identifying a diverse range of skills and abilities they need within their own business, to improving their employee engagement and development. (informative detailed guide from CEC & CBI click here).  Before any engagement event we will provide you with a description of the event; intended learner outcome; detailed timetable and the opportunity to complete at the end of the Employer Feedback Key Encounter form. Learners will be well prepared for the event and will also complete the Student Feedback Key Encounter form which the summary results can be shared with you the employer.

Careers provision within the school and sixth form is mapped and gapped against the DfE Careers guidance and access for education and training providers, Statutory Guidance 2018 and also mapped against the Gatsby Benchmarks 1-8 and currently being mapped against the new CDI Framework for careers, employability and enterprise education. Every school should be using the Gatsby Benchmarks to improve their careers provision and these benchmarks are: 1. A stable careers programme; 2. Learning from career and labour market information; 3. Addressing the needs of each student; 4. Linking curriculum learning to careers; 5. Encounters with employers and employees; 6. Experiences of work places; 7. Encounters with further and higher education; 8. Personal Guidance

The programme is reviewed annually and we assess the impact of the careers programme with feedback from students, teachers and employers so that we can continue to provide and improve the quality of our careers provision. Students destinations are tracked to ensure that they can successfully move onto the most appropriate pathway for them. Download our information provider policy.

For further information please contact the school and ask for Mrs Beckford, Careers Leader.

We are constantly reviewing the delivery of our careers programme and as we progress through the academic year of 2021/2022 we will expect to see some amendments.

Year 7

Spring Term

• National Careers Week: 7-12 March 2022 - Career Related Activities

Summer Term

• STEM Experience Day (all year 7 pupils)
• Students complete Future Skills Questionnaire

Year 8

Autumn Term

‘Which Way Now Day’ (all Year 8 pupils)

Spring Term

• National Careers Week: 7-12 March 2022 Career Related Activities
• Aimhigher ‘Explore Your Future’ career workshops for some Year 8 students
• University Masterclasses –subject enrichment for some Year 8 students

Summer Term

• University Masterclasses – subject enrichment for some Year 8 students
• University - Visit to a university campus (all Year 8 pupils)
• STEM Experience Day– (all Year 8 pupils)

GCSE’s & Post 16 Qualifications

Whether you’re in year 9, 10 or 11, it’s important to start thinking about what you’d like to do after you have completed your GCSEs and how you can prepare for your next steps. Your options after GCSEs usually fall into 4 different categories A Levels, BTECs, Apprenticeships, T Levels – this link gives an explanation of each qualification -  exploring-your-options-after-gcses

• T Levels are a new qualification after GCSE that will take your future to the next level – for more information click here.
• The Department for Education has also provided a short video to explain post 16 choices – click here to watch.
• For more detailed information please refer to the Technical Education – Your Options document below:

Year 9

Spring Term

• National Careers Week: 7-12 March 2022 Career related activities
• University Masterclasses – subject enrichment for some Year 9 students
• Career & Progression conferences/events for some Year 9 students
• STEM for Girls Career Day for some Year 9 students

Autumn Term

• Workshop ‘Good career planning starts with you’ - finding out what you are good at and which different jobs will inspire you (all Year 9 pupils)
• Google it? Becoming a discerning user of careers information workshop (all Year 9 pupils)

Summer Term

Opportunity to meet Employers and preparing for Work Experience (all Year 9 pupils) including workshops on:

• Meet employers to learn about different employment sectors, employability skills and labour market information
• How to use Unifrog, an innovative and easy-to-use careers guidance software helping young people make better and more informed choices about their career path. Connected to live labour market information and course data, Start allows users to create a personal profile which generates suitable jobs, qualifications and new destinations to explore. Ideal for schools and colleges, students and parents, covering work experience; post 16 choices; university; apprenticeships
• C.V. writing and covering letter and how to apply for work experience
• Unifrog workshop to support preparation for year 10 work experience
• Attend various interactive workshops to support career aspiration

Year 10

Autumn Term

• Assembly - work experience
• Building my work skills workshop – looking at how students’ skills connect up to the working world ‘employability skills’ – all Year 10 students
• How different Pathways help build skills and invest in future success and Build your career journey workshops – all Year 10 students
• Undergraduate mentoring with Aston University (Aimhigher) for some Year 10 students
• Q&A with employers from the professional services
• Medic Mentor conferences (some year 10 students)

Spring Term

• National Careers Week: 7-12 March Career Related Activities
• Visits to employers – subject enrichment for some Year 10 students

Summer Term

• Work Experience offered (all Year 10 pupils) – Monday 11 July to Friday 15 July 2022
• ‘A Day in the Life of a Sixth Former’ – preparing for Post 16 & Post 18 
• Unifest University - Summer residential for some Year 10 students
• Career interviews with external careers advisor (Year 10 pupils)
• A taster day at college (some Year 10 pupils)
• Apprenticeship presentation from Project Ask (all Year 10 pupils)
• Unifrog session to help with post 16 choices
• University Summer School for some Year 10 students
• T - Level presentation
• Students complete Future Skills Questionnaire

Progression including accessing www.ucas.com & registering with www.unifrog.org – online resource to compare universities & apprenticeships including Labour Market information (all Year 10 pupils).  Attend progression event showcasing Level 3 subjects (A Levels & BTECs) (all Year 10 pupils)

Year 11

Autumn Term

• Additional careers interviews with external careers advisor
• Careers & Higher Education event for some Year 11 pupils
• Workshops on how to use www.ucas.com, www.apprenticeships.org.uk, www.unifrog.org
• Virtual work experience opportunities e.g. Medic Mentors for some students
• Extra support with post 16 applications for SEND students including visits from colleges
• Q&A with employers from the professional services

Spring Term

• Careers & Higher Education event for some Year 11 pupils
• Workshops on how to use www.ucas.com, www.apprenticeships.org.uk, www.unifrog.org
• Sixth Form Open Evening including information on vocational pathways including apprenticeships and technical qualifications
• Post 16 progression interviews for Year 11 pupils
• After-school workshops on how to use online resources to make post 16 and post 18 pathway decisions
• Virtual Careers Fair
• Apprenticeship awareness information – National Apprenticeship Week 7 – 13 February 2022

Summer Term

• Sixth Form Induction Day including preparation work for Post 16 subjects
• Careers and progression advice on GCSE results day
• Virtual Work Experience Opportunities for some students

Year 12 & 13

Autumn & Spring Term

• Workshops on how to use: www.ucas.com (university), www.getingofar.gov.uk (apprenticeships), www.unifrog.org (online platform for comparing universities & apprenticeships), www.icould.com (subject career videos and labour market information)
• Careers Interviews with External Careers Advisor for some students
• Virtual Work Experience Opportunities
• Virtual Careers Fair
• First Aid Training with university undergraduate medical students for some Year 12 students
• Training Provider presentations including benefits of apprenticeships
• Unifrog workshop to support preparation for post 18 progression
• Apprenticeship awareness information – National Apprenticeship Week 7 – 13 February 2022
• Career & Progression conferences/events for some Year 12 students
• Employer career presentations & workshops in school for some Year 12 students
• Realising Opportunities Programme (Year 12 students)
• Access to Birmingham Programme including Routes to the Professions & Inspired (Year 13 Students)
• Pathways to Birmingham Programme (some year 12 students)
• Social Mobility Foundation Programme – internship (some year 12 students)
• Sutton Trust Summer School (some year 12 students)
• UNIQ Summer School – Oxford (some year 12 students)
• Work Experience to support Post 18 Progression Applications (for all Year 12 students)
• Medic Mentor conferences (some year 12 students)
• Workshops on Employability Skills, C.V. writing and work experience (all Year 12 students)
• Workshop & role play on understanding employability skills
• University Masterclasses – subject enrichment (virtual & face to face 2022)
• Career & Progression conferences/events
• University Post Applicant Taster Days (virtual & face to face 2022)
• Visit to the What Career, What Uni Event for some Year 12 & 13 students (virtual & face to face 2022)
• Visit to apprenticeship events & conferences for some Year 12 & 13 students (virtual & face to face 2022)
• Visits to employers – subject enrichment
• Post 18 workshops for students not applying to university including training providers; apprenticeships & employability skills

Summer Term for Year 12

• UCAS Convention
• Work Experience (for some students) – Monday 11 July to Friday 15 July 2022
• Practice Interviews with employers
• University Open Day visits
• Apprenticeship Presentations - Project Ask
• Higher Education Presentations including Student Finance
• Personal Statement Workshops in-house and at local universities
• University Subject Taster Days (for some students)
• University Academic Enrichment Summer Schools (for some students)
• Oxbridge Summer Schools (for some students)