Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at Weavers Academy

Rationale

At Weavers Academy, we are committed to ensuring our students are prepared for the world of work and further and higher education. Every student should leave school with a comprehensive impartial and informed understanding of the range of pathways, qualifications and choices available to them. We want our students to have the confidence and knowledge to be able to enter further education, higher education, apprenticeships and work and to inspire them to achieve the best opportunities possible, whilst empowering them to plan and manage their own futures.

Our programme for careers and employability is referred to in school as CEIAG (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance) and is founded on the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, recognised as best practice by the DfE in their Statutory Guidance, January 2018 and January 2023.

The school employs a fully qualified CEIAG Ambition Lead for Careers, who is a member of the Careers Development Institute and oversees the strategic development of the careers programme alongside a member of the Senior Leadership Team. A member of the Governing Body is also linked to Careers.

Aims and objectives

Our ethos is ‘Striving for success, Learning with PRIDE” and it is this foundation that underpins our CEIAG programme. Students should leave school not only with experiences of workplaces and meaningful encounters with a range of employers, Labour Market information and understanding, routes into apprenticeships and knowledge of pathways to employment and further and higher education, including technical qualifications, but also with the skills and qualities required to succeed in employment. This includes building resilience, the ability to challenge gender stereotyping, misconceptions of the world of work, understanding the competitive nature of employment, interview skills and techniques, how to apply for jobs and individual careers guidance.

Delivery

We deliver our programme not only through the PSHE curriculum, by linking each subject to careers skills and employability but also through a large number of opportunities throughout the students’ time in school, including trips and visits, careers fairs, assemblies, work experience, training provider and employer talks and visits, display boards, access to our online career’s platform and one to one careers guidance interviews.

Year Group	Cohort
13	As well as comprehensive guidance and support through the UCAS application process, students work on their CV writing and interview techniques, as they prepare to take their next steps into Higher Education, apprenticeships, employment or even gap years. Students have opportunities to meet employers, have career led subject talks and one-to-one careers guidance, as they take the final steps toward their next destinations. Students are given the opportunity to have mock interviews and are fully supported with their applications.
12	The 'Way to Work' programme is designed to guide students on their individual chosen pathways and is delivered in the Spring term. Students have a presentation on the pathways available to them and a computer session, where they are introduced to UCAS Hub and continue to use Unifrog, two destination and career guidance platforms, covering all aspects of employment and study. Sessions focus on applications to universities and apprenticeships, with personal statement guidance, CV workshops and information on interviews. Students have a trip to the UCAS fair to meet universities, apprenticeships and Higher Education training providers and at least one visit to a university. This preparation is key for students to check whether specific work experience is required for their chosen HE courses and to put this in place. Students are offered the opportunity to find a one- week work experience opportunity at the end of the summer term to develop knowledge and confidence in the career choices, whilst also being encouraged to take volunteering and other employment opportunities. Throughout the year students are given a wealth of information about summer schools, Uni taster sessions, research placements and employer talks.
11	Year 11 is a key decision-making point for students moving on to Further Education, Apprenticeships and Training. From September 2025, this process will start very early in the year, as it is essential that the link between GCSE results and progression is made. The "Next Steps" assembly gives students the chance to think about what research they need to do to prepare for their next destination choice and whether they have realistic and informed expectations. All students are given the opportunity to be seen this year by the in-school careers adviser, to ensure they have worked through their decisions and are making informed and independent decisions. Students are given opportunities to engage with alternative FE training providers, colleges and employers recruiting for apprenticeships.
10	A one-week work experience opportunity for all year 10s is the focus for this year. Students will learn how to approach an employer, how to prepare for the world of work and reflect on their learning in the workplace. This work experience opportunity is essential for our students, as are the skills and confidence they gain from experiencing real work situations. This is also backed up by the PSHE curriculum, where students will develop their understanding of expectations in the workplace, employer responsibilities, health and safety at work and the role AI has on employment. Students also meet employers and employees through wider school sessions and can access one-to-one career discussions and the careers drop-in service. Students are given information on educational pathways including technical qualifications.
9	The Year 9 options process is the first milestone in CEIAG, as students begin to make the link between informed option decisions and employment. This is supported by CEIAG delivery throughout the options process and students are supported in their decision making, through assemblies and parent's evenings. Students follow the PSHE programme where students develop their understanding of the challenges and rewards of work and what comes next after leaving school. Students begin to understand how they can take control of their career journey.  Students can access one to one career discussions and the careers drop-in service.
8	Year 8 develop their understanding of careers and employability by focussing on removing barriers to employment and what a successful career looks like. They also consider how issues such as climate change has impacted the careers that are available and how careers adapt to change. Students can access one to one career discussions and the careers drop-in service. Students meet employers and the world of work through trips and visits.
7	Year 7 students begin to discover the skills and attributes involved in a successful career, through their PSHE lessons. Students explore the idea of challenging gender stereotypes, local labour market information and their dream jobs using the Unifrog platform. Year 7 have access to a weekly career drop-in service and the offer of one-to-one guidance. An e-careers book is shared with students, written particularly with Year 7 and 8 in mind. Year 7 begin to encounter information surrounding employability through wider opportunities within school. Students encounter the world of work, in the summer term.

Employer links and alternative training providers

The school is keen to establish local and national employer links and works with a variety of employers, training providers, FE and HE providers to give impartial and informative guidance. Our Ambition Lead for Careers regularly attends network meetings locally and nationally, to ensure the school is aware of opportunities and changes in statutory guidance and keeps abreast of local Labour Market Information. The school is a member of the local Career’s Hub. 

The school has formed strong relationships with a number of local employers, who regularly visit the school throughout the year, either virtually or in person, delivering workshops, assemblies and talks about opportunities they can offer. The school also works with many other local and national companies to ensure students are aware of opportunities and that they have access to local and national labour market information and are aware of local providers of employment.

The school is very proud of its place within the community and actively encourages local businesses, employers and employees to be involved within our career’s fairs, work experience provisions, employer talks and visits. We welcome talks from FE, HE providers and training providers and work cohesively with our local FE colleges.

Engaging parents/ carers and Alumni

We believe that students are inspired by the experiences of ex-students who have moved into a variety of careers. With this in mind, we have an alumni database and encourage all our students when they leave to register with us and stay in contact. We welcome visits from ex -students to talk to current students about their experiences in all aspects of education and employment and we have a dedicated area on the website to be able to celebrate the careers of our ex-students. 

Parents are welcome to attend careers discussions with their child or to contact the Ambition Lead for Careers, or if they need help and advice. Parents are invited to careers presentations in year 11 and 12, to help their understanding of the transition processes. Careers information is also available through the school website, which has a dedicated careers page for parents and links to useful websites. The school also delivers a termly careers e-newsletter that is sent out to students, parents and other stakeholders.

Evaluation and feedback

It is very important to constantly evaluate our programme and to measure its impact. We seek opinions from stakeholders through surveys, questionnaires and feedback forms, in order to reflect on our practice and improve further.

For further information please contact our Ambition Lead for Careers, Mrs Laura Cain, at laura.cain@weaversacademy.org.uk