Careers Education and Guidance
We want our students to understand the world of opportunities available to them and to make the most of their talents. Our aim is to ensure that all our students have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their future and to help to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, confidence, and skills.
We are committed to providing a well-structured Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) for all students in Year 7 to 11. We strive to ensure students experience a full, varied and interesting careers journey, having the opportunity to explore their own interests, skills, and passions; understanding the wealth of jobs and education available to them once they leave school. It is integrated into our students’ experience across the whole curriculum and is based on a partnership with students and their parents or carers. We have a rich partnership with local businesses, colleges and universities to support our Careers Education.
We also work in partnership with Rebuild Support for the provision of one-to-one careers guidance.
Our programme is guided by the Careers Guidance, access for education and training providers and the eight Gatsby benchmarks identifying the elements of good practice in career guidance.
See below for details of our careers provision:
Key Stage 3
As early as Year 7, we introduce students to career resources, as they start to identify the types of jobs they are interested in, and the personal qualities and skills required to do each job. Students learn about personal development, planning, and decision making in their PSHE, English and RE lessons.
During Years 7, 8 and 9 students investigate various aspects of careers education through their PSHE lessons (although there is a crossover into all subjects) and by accessing dedicated careers websites.
As our students progress through the school, opportunities are developed and include lectures, webinars, and events dedicated to next steps.
In Year 9, students make their GCSE choices, and explore how to keep their options open; this is supported by a comprehensive programme delivered through assembly, tutor lessons, PSHE, and parent information events.
Key Stage 4
We encourage all students to consider the career possibilities throughout Year 10 and 11 and provide a wealth of impartial guidance and information on post 16 options.
All students in Key Stage 4 have access to lectures, talks and webinars, from motivational speakers and industry professionals.
Our Careers Week enables students to investigate a large number of different professions. Engaging with industry professionals based on their career interests through talks, sharing work skills for particular employment sectors. Also exploring all routes e.g. university, college, apprenticeships, Oxbridge, Year in Industry, and less familiar routes such as art, performing art and music.
In Year 11 students focus on making decisions and informed choices for their options after their GCSEs. Well-planned information is provided about post 16 provision.l institutions.
All Year 11 students receive 1:1 meetings with their tutors to discuss their next steps and career aspirations.
All students in Year 11 are offered 1:1 career interviews with an external consultant.
Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Policy
Please click here to view a copy of our CEIAG Policy.
Provider Access Policy
Please click here to view a copy of our Provider Access Policy.
Monitoring, Review, Evaluation and Development of CEIAG
The following provision is reviewed by the Careers Leader and the Assistant Headteacher with oversight of CEIAG:
- Annual review of partnership activities, incorporating destination data (CEIAG Plan)
- Learning walks including as part of School Self Evaluation
- Feedback on the effectiveness of the CEIAG programme is sought through student focus groups and questionnaires. Resulting action points then feed into the following years’ planning process to ensure they are addressed
- Tracking via the Compass+ Profile tool. This is an online platform that supports schools to review their adherence to the Gatsby Benchmarks and ensure they are meeting their statutory duties around career guidance.
Further Information
For further information, or if you are a business that would like to engage with us in delivering our Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG), please contact Mrs K Davey by email daveyk@stberns.bristol.sch.uk or by phone on 0117 3772050.