Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)

QEGS Penrith

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) careers education programme provides our students with the opportunity to plan and manage their careers effectively, ensuring progression which is ambitious and aspirational. It promotes equality of opportunity, celebrates diversity and challenges stereotypes. It is designed to meet the Gatsby benchmarks and conforms to statutory requirements.

The programme has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice and to meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance 2018.

The Gatsby Benchmarks

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. Experience of work places
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

Aim

We aim to support students to make realistic and informed decisions about their future, by raising aspirations and providing impartial and independent information and guidance.

Objectives

To ensure that students:

• develop the skills and attitudes necessary for success in adult and working life.
• are aware of the range of opportunities which are realistically available to them in continued education and training aged 14, 16 and 18.
• are equipped with the necessary decision-making skills to manage those same transitions.
• develop an awareness of the wide variety of education, training and careers opportunities both locally and nationally.
• use effectively the paper-based, virtual and staff resources available so they can make informed and appropriate choices throughout their school journey.
• benefit from links fostered between the school, local businesses and further education establishments.
• experience the world of work and develop transferable skills.
• wherever possible leave the school to enter employment, further education or training.
• experience a culture of high aspirations, equality of opportunity, in which diversity is celebrated and stereotypes are challenged.
• receive extra assistance and guidance to reach their potential, where this is necessary.

Provision

Careers provision is mapped against the Gatsby benchmarks. The current careers programme is delivered through a combination of methods, including explicit lessons provided within the taught PSHE/citizenship programme in Years 7 and 8.

At Key Stage 3, this includes careers research with an aim to raise student aspirations, exploring stereotypes in the workplace, researching the history of the workplace, and developing personal, social and employability skills. Assemblies and a parent and student information evening on choosing options are also provided. In activities week, Year 8 students have a half day enterprise experience.

At Key Stage 4, students continue research into careers and pathways into the sixth form, work and higher education. They also complete a work experience placement.

At Key Stage 5, a series of careers lectures are delivered from universities and employers. Some of these lectures, together with form time, are devoted to the topic of UCAS applications and interview skills. There is also a UCAS evening event and a programme of mock interviews involving guests from various fields. In addition, Year 12 have the opportunity for further work experience; students are involved in voluntary community and charity work; and there is a transition day (summer term of Year 12) which includes visits from external speakers.

Several special events are held, for example the Careers Fair, involving University, apprenticeship and careers representatives, to which all students and parents are invited.

Roles and responsibilities

All staff contribute to the implementation of this policy through their role as tutors and as subject specialists.

Subject specialists embed careers into their subject area. A range of connections between Higher education providers and employers are forged and developed to support the curriculum through KS3 to 5.

Monitoring, Recording and Evaluation

Built into the careers programme are opportunities for students to self-evaluate and reflect on their learning at key points, such as following work experience during Year 10. Participants in the programme complete surveys following key events including students, parents and employers. Leavers’ destination information is also analysed.

Careers and SEN provision.

Every pupil with SEN follows the same programme of careers as their peers, with adaption and support from the SEN team where appropriate.

The SENCO meets with parents/carers to discuss option suitability where individual need is likely to have an impact on choices made during the option process. The SENDCO supports work experience placements, ensuring that providers are aware of individual needs, in order to promote a positive experience.

Partnerships

The CEIAG programme is greatly enhanced through links which help to ensure that students’ learning is current and relevant. We work closely with local employers and employees including previous students.

A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents. This involvement enhances the provision of work experience placements, careers talks, the careers fair, workplace visits and mock interviews. In addition, we work closely with universities and the local FE Colleges.

We always strive to expand and improve our contacts. Governors are regularly updated on the careers programme and there is an active link governor.

Appendix A: Careers Entitlement

Students through the careers programme entitled to:

• Receive a stable careers programme from Year 7 that continues until they leave school (or attend University, if taking a gap year).
• Receive relevant careers guidance and have access to independent careers information and guidance, including labour market data where relevant.
• Receive personal advice that helps students to achieve their individual careers goal – whether this is Higher Education, an apprenticeship or employment.
• Be equipped with the necessary skills to prosper in HE and employment.
• Have the relevant knowledge to make realistic and achievable goals based on their own interests and skills, whilst taking into account local job market information and relevant entry requirements.
• Receive up-to-date information about careers and skill-development opportunities.
• Understand how different subjects help keep different options open.
• Have access to additional help, whether this need is generated from a change of decision, personal circumstances or additional needs.
• Have meaningful and helpful encounters with employers and other education providers.
• Have a minimum of one week’s work experience, with the opportunity for a second.

Students are expected to:

• Fully engage with careers lessons and activities.
• Utilise the available careers resources, including on-line platforms.
• Record careers-related skills, participation and research, reflect upon what has been learnt.
• Identify and set goals for the future.
• Actively participate in workshops, presentations and visits from external employers or providers.
• Attend informative events such as Options Evening and the Careers fair.
• Use study and research spaces such as the careers and sixth form library appropriately and with respect for other users.
• Take advantage of opportunities offered outside school, such as school trips and projects.

Parents are entitled to have:

• Access to links to the National Careers Service information and other independent websites and resources via the school website.
• The opportunity to contact the independent careers advisor, careers lead or careers coordinator.
• Access to information and guidance through parent information evenings including choosing options,
• UCAS, work experience and student finance.