Careers
Orsett Heath Academy believes that good Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) connects learning to the future. It motivates young people by giving them a clearer idea of the routes to jobs and careers that they will find engaging and rewarding. Good CEIAG widens pupils’ horizons, challenges stereotypes and raises aspirations; and provides pupils with the knowledge and skills necessary to make successful transitions to the next stage of their life.
Aims
Through our Careers programme we aim to provide all students with:
- a stable careers education programme
- the ability to learn from career and labour market information
- support which addresses the needs of each pupil
- the opportunity to meet employers and for work experience
- experiences of workplaces
- curriculum links to real-world careers
- information on all post-16 options (apprenticeships as well as further education)
- encounters with further and higher education
- support in CV writing, interview preparation, public speaking and financial awareness.
Our school is committed to achieving The Gatsby Benchmarks through a well-planned careers programme for all students.The Gatsby Benchmarks
Curriculum Overview
The Careers Education programme is delivered both in and outside the classroom environment. The school’s PSHE curriculum includes units of work for all students in Years 7 to 11 which are age-specific and appropriate to the educational stage of students development.
Year 7
Developing skills and aspirations – Careers, teamwork and enterprise skills and raising aspirations. Students will learn:
- How to be enterprising, including skills of problem-solving, communication, teamwork, leadership, risk-management and creativity
- About a broad range of careers the abilities and qualities required for different careers about equality of opportunity
- How to challenge stereotypes, broaden their horizons and how to identify future career aspirations
Year 8
Community and careers – Equality of opportunity in careers and life choices, and different types and patterns of work. Students will learn:
- About equality of opportunity in life and work
- How to challenge stereotypes and discrimination in relation to work and pay
- About employment, self-employment and voluntary work
- How to set aspirational goals for future careers and challenge expectations that limit choices
Year 9
Setting goals – Learning strengths, career options and goal setting as part of the GCSE options process. Students will learn:
- About transferable skills, abilities and interests
- How to demonstrate strengths
- About different types of employment and career pathways
- How to manage feelings relating to future employment
- About GCSE and post-16 options skills for decision making
Employability skills – Learning what employability means and the key skills required. Students will learn:
- About the core employability skills including listening, speaking, problem solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership and teamwork skills
Year 10
Pupils will
- Explore their own personalities and skill sets and explore compatible careers
- Have one-to-one careers interviews and develop their own personalised careers plan.
- Have opportunities to meet with local employers who offer apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
- Enhance pupils understanding of post-16 options including A-Levels, T-Levels and apprenticeships.
- Have opportunities to visit Higher Education and Further Education Providers.
In addition to the PSHE curriculum students will have access to a wide range of experiences which will enhance their understanding of further education and the world of work. These include:
- Tutor Time careers and review sessions
- Assemblies
- Trips and Visits
- External Visitors and Speakers
- Focus day events for key transition years – Y7 (Start of Secondary School) Y9 (into GCSE) and Y11 (into KS5)
- Careers Interviews during KS4 including 1:1 support
- Subject areas embedding careers into their subject areas
- Visual Displays around School
- Mock interviews with local employers
Policy Documents
Careers Education and Information Advice and Guidance policy