CAREERS EDUCATION

Parkside aims to make a major contribution in preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of life. Careers Education (CE) and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) are provided to ensure that students develop the knowledge and skills to make successful decisions. The understanding and experience that students acquire should enable them to manage the transition into the post 16 setting as knowledgeable, confident and well-prepared learners and workers.  

We work with many local and national providers to give real employability skills through work experience, mentoring, interview days, employer insight visits and an extensive form time careers programme called Future Focus Fridays, where guest speakers from business and industry speak to students about their experiences and offer insights into the world of work. This also includes alumni talks from former students. Higher and further education, apprenticeships and training schemes are further explored through talks as well as visit to higher education providers and apprenticeship fairs. We also offer one to one careers guidance interviews with external advisors. Students at Parkside also have access to the Unifrog careers platform which is also used to track student aspirations and identify opportunities that link to their future. To meet the Baker Clause requirements, students engage with a range of higher education provision, not just universities. 

We aim to: 

• Develop students’ aspirations, self- awareness, and participation in CE and IAG. 

• To maintain a good working relationship between the school and outside organisations such as the Local Authority Youth Support Service and Local Employers. 

• Ensure that CE and IAG is delivered to and exceeds National Standards. 

• To ensure that student outcomes in CE lessons are high. 

• To encourage students to make effective use of the resources available to them, in order that they can make informed and appropriate choices throughout their school journey. 

• To enable staff to explore the resources available and engage with training opportunities so that they can support students with CE and IAG throughout the school. 

For this to happen it requires that: 

• Staff and outside partners are clear about their roles and responsibilities within the area of CE and IAG. 

• There is a planned programme of activities which all students are entitled to and will have access to.  

• Careers Education and Information, Advice and Guidance is impartial and confidential. 

• The programme promotes equality of opportunity, good relations, and tackles discrimination. 

• There are mechanisms for feedback from staff, parents and students about the delivery and availability of CE and IAG, so that the procedures and quality of delivery can be continually evaluated and improved. 

• The school to use the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Benchmarks to develop and improve their careers provision. While the Gatsby Benchmarks are not a statutory framework, by adopting them, we can be confident that we are fulfilling our legal duties. 

• A stable careers programme 

• Learning from career and labour market information 

• Addressing the needs of each pupil 

• Linking curriculum learning to careers 

• Encounters with employers and employees 

• Experiences of workplaces 

• Encounters with further and higher education 

• Personal guidance 

We are committed to providing a planned programme of careers education and guidance for all students in years 7 – 11 in partnership with external providers such as Form the Future. This policy was developed through an audit of practice and is reviewed annually through discussions with teaching staff, Governors, our external careers advisors and students. The impact of the policy and its delivery is measured through the analysis of post 16 destination data. Participation in the Cambridge Area Partnership schools and employers conference ensures that our lead staff remain up to date and informed about the local job market and that we are networked to opportunities as they emerge.  

We encourage external providers to contact the Director of Careers (Mark Turner) if they want to deliver an inspirational assembly, careers talk to students or workshop to improve transferable skills. Furthermore, we are always looking to grow our network of local external providers to support with Y10 Work Experience. A copy of Provider Access legislation can be found here.

Career’s Framework by year group 

Intent  Parkside Community College seeks to ensure that all students can attend the 6th for or further educational provider of their choice and will have all the information needed to make informed choices about their future careers and pathways.
Phased Outcomes
Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
External Speaker’s Future Focus Friday programme  What’s My line – Employer visits  Form time Unifrog  Friday careers programme  Visit a Cambridge University college	External Speaker’s Future Focus Friday programme  Employer visits   Form time Unifrog  Friday careers programme	External Speaker’s Future Focus Friday programme  Employer visits  Form time Unifrog   Friday careers programme  Enterprise Day  1:1 career’s guidance EHCP /Disadvantaged/  SEND	External Speaker’s Future Focus Friday programme  Employability workshops  Form time Unifrog   Friday careers programme  Apprenticeships visit and assembly  Apprenticeship Fair  6th Form statements  1:1 career’s guidance all  Work Experience	External Speaker’s Future Focus Friday programme  Mock interviews  Form time Unifrog   Friday careers programme  Apprenticeship Fair  My choice 6th form options  1:1 career’s guidance all  Visit to University fair
PSHE and Careers in the Curriculum
Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
PSHE: skills and Aspirations and Money, budgeting and financial literacy  PSHE: my ideal job  Department presentations for careers in the curriculum	STEM learning about jobs available in science  How to find out information about careers in the summer  Y8 trip to France – meet local employers  Department presentations for careers in the curriculum	Setting Goals and Employability  Department presentations for careers in the curriculum  Department presentations for careers in the curriculum  Choosing GCSE options	PSHE: money and economics & Building for the Future  Preparing for Work Experience  Year 10 taster days at 6th form  Assemblies based around post 16 choices  Presentations about post 16 choices  Interview technique and skills  Department presentations for careers in the curriculum	PSHE: know your Rights &   Getting started in the Workplace   Moving on from school – post 16 choices/  completing CAP form   Department presentations for careers in the curriculum
Common Threads covered through each phase  University visits, workplace experiences, employer engagement, the future of the workplace, apprenticeship opportunities and vocational training guidance, careers in STEM, careers guidance

Apprenticeships 

An apprenticeship is a real job where you learn, gain experience and get paid. You're an employee with a contract of employment and holiday leave. Apprenticeships are an exciting option - you get hands-on training and the chance to put your skills into practice. 
To become an apprentice, you must: 

• be 16 or over 

• not already be in full-time education 

• live in England 

As an apprentice, you’ll: 

• learn and train for a specific job 

• get paid and receive holiday leave  

• get hands-on experience in a real job 

• study for at least 20% of your working hours - usually at a college, university or with a training provider  

• complete assessments during and at the end of your apprenticeship 

• be on a career path with lots of future potential 

Levels of apprenticeship 

Each apprenticeship has a level and an equivalent education level. You can start an apprenticeship at any level. Depending on the level, some apprenticeships may: 

• require previous qualifications such as an English or maths GCSE 

• give extra training in the English or maths skills needed so you are at the right level 

At the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll achieve the equivalent education level. For example, if you complete a level 3 apprenticeship, you’ll achieve the equivalent of an A level. 

	Apprenticeship Level	Equivalent Education Level
Intermediate	2	GCSE
Advanced	3	A Level
Higher	4, 5, 6, 7	Foundation degree and above
Degree	6, 7	Bachelor's or Master's degree

 

Useful Websites 

Careers Advice 

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Youth Support Service website for young people in Cambridgeshire Youth in Communities - Cambridgeshire County Council has some especially useful information for students thinking about future courses and careers. The Work section has information on the most effective ways to get a job and has links to extensive careers information with the National Careers Service (www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk). 

National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship 

This website contains information about the NAS - which supports, funds and co- ordinates the delivery of Apprenticeships throughout England. There are lots of benefits to doing an Apprenticeship. You can earn while you learn and learn in a way that is best suited to you – through hands-on experience on the job. Key benefits of being an apprentice include: 

• learning a salary 

• getting paid holidays 

• receiving training 

• gaining qualifications 

• learning job-specific skills 

Provision  

• Funding is allocated in the annual budget plan. 

• Careers information is available in the learning centres and on the school computer network. Online resources are publicised widely. The careers co-ordinator organises the teaching resources for the career's modules in the PSHE programme. 

• The Youth Support Service Advisor works from an office where private 1:1 advice interview can take place. 

• Dedicated PSHE and PLP sessions cover the curriculum for careers and study/work related guidance. 

Training  

• Staff training needs are identified in Appraisal Reviews and the Assessment Audit. 

• Training for new teachers to the PSHE team takes place by the PSHE co-ordinator on a 1:1 basis as needed throughout the year. Whole staff training is arranged by the Assistant Head Teachers and PSHE coordinators. 

Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation  

• The delivery of careers education within the PSHE curriculum is monitored informally by the PSHE coordinator (after each careers module through staff and student feedback), more formally (through teaching observations) and annually through the REVIEW of PSHE conducted by the appropriate member of the leadership team. 

• The Partnership Agreement with the youth Support Service is reviewed annually. 

• The effectiveness of the CE and IAG programme is audited annually by the leadership team and reported to the Governing Body. 

• Transition outcomes (Destination Data) is used to determine the success of the policy and its implementation. 

Partnership Working  

At various times, local community groups and employers participate in the delivery of careers, IAG and employability projects and programmes.  

Useful Links 

• Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service Extensive careers information and advice 

• The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) - Trade Association Forum (taforum.org) Find out about the benefits to doing an apprenticeship: you can earn while you learn and learn through hands-on experience on the job. Key benefits of being an apprentice include earning a salary, getting paid holidays, receiving training, gaining qualifications, learning job-specific skills. 

• Everything you need to know about apprenticeships and how to apply for them through the National Apprenticeship Website. 

• www.icould.com - i could is a visual/video-based site. Before exploring a range of career paths, young people can take the Buzz Quiz. In under five minutes they can discover their personality profile. 

• Start: Start is a free and comprehensive digital platform. Start’s structured and progressive activities caters for all students helping them to make more informed decisions about future study and career options at the right time and in good time. Just register to use the site and start to build up a profile of skills, world of work, what to study, where to learn as well as a suite of online tools to help build your profile. 

Online Career Video Clips 

• All students have access to over 500 video clips on different careers with Careers Box at www.careersbox.co.uk 

• Additionally, there is a Skills Explorer page on the website which allows students to watch videos matched to their skills and preferences. 

Management 

• The Assistant Principals have responsibility for IAG delivery. 

• Careers Education is delivered by timetabled PSHE teaching staff and the subject staff allocated to the annual 3-day CAS programme (Creative Action Service). 

• All members of staff are expected to contribute to the Careers Education and IAG programme through their roles as tutors and subject teachers. 

• The Assistant Principals (with the support of student services and the SEND coordinator) ensure the integration of the more intensive and targeted programmes available to students with additional needs. 

• The Local Authority Youth Support Service Advisor provides specialist careers guidance. The employer/business coordinator holds the overview of the Business Class programme. 

 

For any further information please contact any of the following staff:  

Mark Turner has oversight of careers and can be contacted via email mark.turner@parksidecc.org.uk | 01223 712600. 

Joseph Crane (Vice Principal) joseph.crane@parksidecc.org.uk 

Parkside Community College Cambridge CB1 1EH Telephone: 01223 712300 Email: enquiries@parksidecc.org.uk