INTRODUCTION
At Chestnut Grove Academy, our aim is that students leave school with a careers education that has helped to raise aspirations and give them the skills to ensure that they succeed at university, thrive in employment and lead fulfilling lives’, in line with our curriculum intent.
We ensure all pupils, from Year 7 upwards, are kept fully up to date with the most recent careers information, so that they can make well informed decisions about their next steps after Chestnut Grove Academy.
Our school Careers Leader is James Wildman. He can be contacted by email on jwildman@chestnutgrove.org.uk or by calling the main school office.
OUR CAREERS PROGRAMME
Our careers strategy is developed in line with the Gatsby benchmarks and the Baker Clause (https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance).
Careers is an integrated part of the curriculum. All subject areas make reference to and discuss career opportunities specific to individual areas, as well as exploring the transferable, enabling skills which enables pupils to develop across all year groups. On top of this, we also employ an independent Careers Advisor who meets with students on a 1-2-1 basis to offer additional support.
Pupils with SEND are further supported by staff in Learning Support; our school SENCO liaises with our Careers Leader and additional outside agencies for pupils as necessary.
Other careers education, information advice and guidance activities include:
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Career guidance activities (group work and individual careers interviews)
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Personalised one-to-one interviews at transition stages (Y11, Y12/13)
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Work-related learning (including two week’s work experience in both Year 10 and Year 12)
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Careers lessons as part of the Health curriculum and careers assemblies for every year group
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Information and research activities
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Curriculum sessions including those devoted to Careers and Work Related Learning
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Visits to work places
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Peer Mentor sessions
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Workshops in a variety of career topics
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Workshops and sessions supporting further education including Higher Education Day, introduction to UCAS evening, a number of UCAS application support workshops, Junior University sessions, University visits
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Guest speakers/visitor talks on specific careers and apprenticeships
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Mock interview sessions
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CV and personal statement sessions
CURRICULUM
Key Stage 3
The aim of careers education in Key Stage 3 is to introduce pupils to the working world, the vocabulary associated with it, and the wide range of possible careers that they could pursue. They will start thinking about what they personally would want from a career, and will start to develop their skills on how to investigate careers further. They will think about critical employability skills or qualifications that would be needed for different careers, and through identifying their own personal traits, strengths and skills, will start to develop a long term action plan. At the end of Key Stage 3, pupils will be encouraged to use the careers resources they have been introduced to, to help inform their GCSE decisions. In line with the Baker Clause, students will be made aware of a wide range of qualifications available for them; academic, creative, vocational and technical.
Key Stage 4
In Key Stage 4, the emphasis shifts onto preparing pupils for making their post-16 choices, and for the world of work; into which they may shortly be entering. They will learn about A-level subjects and what they involve, but will also be informed about all other possible options available to them after their GCSEs, including colleges, technical colleges, and apprenticeships. To prepare them for employment, pupils will focus more on CV and interview skills, and will learn about their rights and responsibilities, budgeting and payslips. They are encouraged to investigate potential career paths further, and will use this information, together with advice and research to help inform their post-16 decisions. In line with the Baker Clause, students will be made aware of a wide range of qualifications available for them; academic, creative, vocational and technical.
Key Stage 5
In Key Stage 5 we aim to prepare pupils for making their post-18 choices, and for becoming an independent adult. They will learn about all the options that are available to them, including higher education, jobs, gap years and apprenticeships, and given assistance on whichever route they choose to go down. Students are given advice on writing personal statements, with emphasis on UCAS, apprenticeship and job applications, and they will receive a lot of support on interview preparation, leading up to a mock interview day. To help further with their transition to university and adult life they learn about study skills, student finance and budgeting. We believe that developing employability skills is very important, so encourage pupils to take part in work experience. In line with the Baker Clause, students will be made aware of a wide range of qualifications available for them; academic, creative, vocational and technical.
WHAT ARE YOU ENTITLED TO?
A Stable Careers Programme - You will follow a programme of careers education and guidance to help you learn about what is possible in the future and to help you make choices. You will have careers lessons in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 to help you think about the your skills and abilities and the sort of jobs and courses you can do in the future.
Learning from Careers and Labour Market Information - You will learn about future study options and labour market opportunities, using careers information online, using education websites and visits to employers and education placements.
Addressing the needs of each Pupil - You will receive guidance at different stages and this advice will be tailored to your needs. Our Careers programme embraces equality and diversity.
Linking Curriculum learning to Careers - Curriculum learning linked to careers wherever possible.
Encounters with employers and employees - You will learn from employers the skills that are valued in the workplace. You will encounter employers from all sorts of work environments.
Experience of workplaces - You will have experience of the workplace through, work visits, work shadowing and where appropriate, the opportunity to do complete block work experience placements so you can try out different job ideas.
Encounters with Further Education - You will understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to you. You will have the opportunity to visit local colleges and training providers and they may visit you in school. These opportunities include academic qualifications as well as technical and vocational courses and T Levels.
Personal Guidance - You'll receive 1-2-1 advice and guidance from our Level 6 Careers Advisor, Noel Tierney, during Years 10 and 11. You will also have the opportunity to discuss career options and further education with your tutor during health lessons.
MEASURING IMPACT
Chestnut Grove Academy uses internally and externally produced reports to assess the impact of our careers education, information, advice and guidance. The Department for Education Destination Measures report enables us to see how many students remain in education, employment or training at post 16 compared to other schools in Wandsworth and nationally.
We also use the Careers and Enterprise Company 'compass tool' to evaluate our provision and assess whether we are meeting the 8 recommended Gatsby Benchmarks. This report is run every 3 months. Students evaluate careers activities such as the Careers Fair and their individual careers appointments through student voice feedback forms.
APPLICATION FOR PROVIDER ACCESS
Chestnut Grove Academy provides the opportunity for providers to come into the school and support students on a range of opportunities in Further and Higher Institutions and Apprenticeships. Or you are an employer and feel that you could help our students experience the world of work, please get in touch with James Wildman, Assistant Headteacher / Designated Safeguarding Lead via email: jwildman@chestnutgrove.org.uk
Provider Access Policy
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Apprenticeships advice and support
Path to Careers - A parent guide
Pathways after GCSEs explained
Research your Pathways (useful links)
What is LMI and ways of working?
Where can I find information about what I want to be?