Stephenson Trust Post 16 CentreCareers education, information, advice and guidance at The Stephenson Trust.
CAREERS PLAN
The Stephenson (MK) Trust is committed to providing high quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) to all of our students.
In line with the new statutory guidance produced by the Department for Education, we offer a varied programme of careers education embedded within all areas of the curriculum and delivered through our project based learning, princes trust lessons, tutorials, assemblies and careers activities, trips and encounters with local employers. The careers programme is delivered from years 7-13.
We actively encourage and welcome outside agencies, employers and education & training providers to come and meet with our students and believe that all interactions of this kind can help our students to gain a wider understanding of their options and the labour market. These positive and meaningful encounters encourage our students to consider new ideas, which can help to raise their aspirations. Please contact our Careers Advisor to make arrangements for this.
Chloe Batchelor chloe.batchelor@bridgeacademy.org.uk
Our careers provision is planned in line with achieving the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of good practise for careers delivery:
The Gatsby Benchmarks
1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance
Our provision is revaluated termly using the Careers and Enterprise Company compass tool and our careers plan has been approved by our senior leadership team and our board of governors. The careers plan is reviewed every year and is part of a strategic improvement plan to achieve all benchmarks of good practise and the requirements of the careers strategy.
The views of students and parents are very important. They are welcomed and actively used in all evaluation and planning of the programme. Parents can contact our Careers Team via email or telephone or meet face to face at annual reviews / parents evenings / coffee mornings. Students are encouraged to give feedback about the careers programme at student voice meetings. Parent are encouraged to contact the Careers Advisor for advice, guidance and to discuss their young person’s future.
The careers delivery for each year is summarised and reviewed in an end of year report by the Careers Advisor that is sent to the senior leadership team and the board of Governors.
Leavers intended destinations are provided to the Local Authority in July each year. Actual destinations are provided in September and again at October half term.
Details of our student’s destinations are counted and published each year in the Activity Survey.
The Activity Survey is a statutory report that Local Authorities provide to the DfE each year and it is finalised on the 31st January. It provides initial destination information of young people who left school the previous September and is based on their activity on 1st November.
The information is gathered together by the Youth Faculty by working with schools, local colleges and training providers. The Youth Faculty team also track young people by contacting them by phone, email, letter, and in some circumstances, home visits.
KEY PEOPLE
Careers Leader – Bev Wise
Careers Advisor – Chloe Batchelor
Enterprise Coordinator, South East Local Enterprise Partnership – Paul Thompson
Link Careers Adviser, the Youth, Advice and Guidance Service. Youth Faculty, Milton Keynes Council - Caroline Keen / Tracey Pace
Governor with strategic interest in careers for Bridge Academy – Paula Lawson
Governor with strategic interest in careers for Stephenson Academy – Leigh Siddon
CAREERS GUIDANCE
Chloe Batchelor is the careers adviser for Stephenson (MK) Trust, and works across all sites.
Chloe Batchelor has over 17 years Industry experience, working in many different sectors including Government, Manufacturing, Hospitality and Aerospace. She has worked with Apprentices and Work Experience Candidates, assisting in their knowledge of the company and training. She brings with her a wealth of industry knowledge and contacts who are keen to join the Trusts Mentoring Scheme, Friends of Stephenson Trust. She is a qualified Mental Health First Aider and is passionate about helping students develop their potential and have a future regardless of the challenges they may face, while building self-esteem and fostering an ‘I-can-do-this’ attitude.
Chloe offers impartial face-to-face guidance to all students at the Trust, helping them to make informed decisions about their future destinations and career pathways.
Students are offered a careers interview in year 9, 11, 12 and 13. The Careers Team will attend all annual reviews (where possible) in year 9 and 11, 12 and 13.
All students receive a personalised careers action plan. Chloe will work with our students until the October following the summer when they leave to provide wrap around support during the transition period from statutory education to post 16 education, training or employment.
We work closely with the Information, Advice and Guidance service and have named advisers; Caroline Keen and Tracey Pace who are linked to our Trust. We work closely together during the spring / summer term to ensure a joined up approach and smooth transition to their service. YAG can support our students until they are 20 (25 for those with an EHCP).
Caroline and Tracey can be contacted at YAG, The Youth Faculty (MK Council): Tel: 01908 556700
Careers @ Key stage 3
- Careers is embedded into project based learning lessons and where appropriate in all subjects across the curriculum.
Bridge Academy
Careers embedded into PSHE:
- Recognising our strengths and values
- Raising self esteem
- Communication skills
- Goal setting
- Economic wellbeing
- Teamwork
- Employability skills; interview preparation, writing a CV
Stephenson Academy:
Careers embedded into PSHE and IT Lessons, as well as option lessons.
- Recognising our strengths and values
- Raising self esteem
- Communication skills
- Goal setting
- Economic wellbeing
- Teamwork
- Employability skills; interview preparation, writing a CV, Work Experience and Application Form Guidance
Careers Carousel – Work Tree.
Opportunities for Employer mentoring
Opportunities for Work shadowing
STEM activities - to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Enterprise Activities
Careers assemblies
Careers notice board to display careers information in each centre.
Trips and visits – skills shows, apprenticeships fairs.
Careers guidance interviews with all students in year 9
Attendance at annual reviews for students in year 9
Careers @ Key stage 4
Careers is embedded where appropriate into all subjects across the curriculum.
Bridge Academy
21st Century Skills lessons that include:
- Recognising our strengths and values
- Raising self esteem
- Communication skills
- Goal setting
- Economic wellbeing
- Teamwork
- Employability skills; interview preparation, writing a CV, work experience and Application Form Guidance
Stephenson Academy:
Careers embedded into PSHE and IT Lessons, as well as option lessons.
- Recognising our strengths and values
- Raising self esteem
- Communication skills
- Goal setting
- Economic wellbeing
- Teamwork
- Employability skills; interview preparation, writing a CV, Work Experience and Application Form Guidance
Careers Carousel – Work Tree
Opportunities for Employer mentoring
Opportunities for Work shadowing
STEM activities - to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Enterprise Activities
Careers assemblies
Careers notice board to display careers information in each centre
Trips and visits – skills shows, apprenticeships fairs
Careers guidance interview for all year 11 students
Visits to local colleges and training providers
Careers workshops and talks
Employer visits
Mock interviews with employers
Opportunities for work experience
Introduction to the Youth, Advice and Guidance service for all year 11 students
Support with post 16 applications and interviews
Careers Adviser in attendance at all annual reviews for year 11 students
Carefully managed and supported transition from school to college
Joint home visits with Youth, Advice and Guidance over the summer
Continued support from the Careers Adviser until October half term following the end of year 11 to ensure students have been able to engage successfully with their post 16 destination
Intended destination and September guarantee information provided to the local authority
Work in partnership with the local authority to provide information for the Annual Activity Survey
Careers @ Key stage 5
Opportunities for Employer mentoring
Mentoring Scheme – Friends of Stephenson Trust
Active Jobs Board – showing active job opportunities within the local area
Opportunities for Work shadowing
Opportunities to visit Higher Education providers
Careers notice board to display careers information in each centre
Trips and visits – skills shows, apprenticeships fairs
Careers guidance interview for all year 12 and 13 students
Visits to local colleges and training providers
Careers workshops and talks
Employer visits
Mock interviews with employers
Opportunities for work experience
Support applications and interviews
Careers Adviser in attendance at all annual reviews for 6th form students
Carefully managed and supported transition from school to college
Joint home visits with Youth, Advice and Guidance over the summer
Continued support from the Careers Adviser until October half term following the end of year 11 to ensure students have been able to engage successfully with their post 16 destination
Intended destination and September guarantee information provided to the local authority
Work in partnership with the local authority to provide information for the Annual Activity Survey
EXPLORING CAREERS INDEPENDENTLY
Students are encouraged and expected to take responsibility for exploring their own career ideas and options. Here are some good websites that students can use:
Barclays Life Skills - helps young people get the skills and experiences they need to enter the world of work.
https://barclayslifeskills.com
Skills to Succeed Academy – helps with career planning and skills building
Icould - Careers advice, choices & ideas
www.icould.com
Careersbox - Watch videos of people in different jobs
www.careersbox.co.uk
Success at School – Explore jobs by career zone
www.successatschool.org/careerzones
Take a quiz to explore careers in different worlds of work
www.icould.com/buzz
Find out about different jobs: www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/home
Information about apprenticeships and job vacancies
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/
www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/youth-faculty
Interested in University?
WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS - THE FRIENDS OF STEPHENSON (MK) TRUST (FOST)
The Stephenson (MK) Trust is committed to increasing the opportunities that our students have for engaging positively with adults from the ‘world of work’. We know that young people benefit from activities such as work experience, work shadowing, workshops, careers talks, workplace visits and mentoring.
We are currently looking for mentors to join the Friends of Stephenson (MK) Trust Network, to help build young people’s confidence and self-esteem when it comes to thinking about their future and what they are capable of achieving, working alongside our current mentors.
All volunteers are trained; insured via the STEM Ambassador scheme and undergo a DBS check.
The FOST are a group of positive role models, people with interesting jobs, people who would like to inspire, motivate and encourage young people to reach their potential. They are currently supporting our students with a variety of activities across all year groups.
If you would like to find out more about the FOST or if you are an employer who would like to work with our school, please contact our Careers Advisor Chloe Batchelor – chloe.batchelor@bridgeacademy.org.uk
Full training and support is provided.
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
Students and parents are encouraged to access information about the local labour market. This forms part of all careers work that is delivered in school. A helpful Link to labour market information for the South East Midlands region can be found here:
https://www.semlep.com/labour-market-information/
School Name: Provider Access Policy
Introduction
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer.
This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
Pupil entitlement
All pupils in years 8-13 are entitled:
- To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
- To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
- To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
Management of provider access requests
Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact Chloe Batchelor, Careers Advisor, Telephone: 01908 889426 Email: chloe.batchelor@bridgeacademy.org.uk
Opportunities for access
A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers: Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
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Year 8
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Event for University Technical Colleges |
Life Skills – assembly and tutor group opportunities |
Life Skills – assembly and tutor group opportunities |
|
Year 9
|
Event for University Technical Colleges |
Life Skills – assembly and tutor group opportunities |
KS4 options event |
|
Year 10
|
Event for University Technical Colleges |
|
Life Skills – exploration of technical courses |
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Year 11
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Life Skills – assembly on opportunities at 16
Event for University Technical Colleges
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Post-16 evening
Post-16 taster sessions |
Small group sessions: future education, training and employment options |
|
Year 12
|
Higher Education Fair
Post-18 assembly - apprenticeships
|
Small group sessions: future education, training and employment options |
Small group sessions: future education, training and employment options |
|
Year 13
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Workshops – HE and higher apprenticeship applications
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Small group sessions: future education, training and employment options
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Please speak to our Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.
Premises and facilities The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations.
This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team.
Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature with the Careers Advisor.