Careers Information and Guidance
‘The Government’s careers strategy sets out a long term plan to build a world class careers system that will help young people and adults choose the career that is right for them. To achieve this aim, the careers strategy sets out that every school providing secondary educations should use the Gatsby Charitable Foundation Benchmarks to develop and improve their careers provision…The Gatsby Benchmarks are not a statutory framework but by adopting them, schools can be confident that they are fulfilling their legal duties.’
DfE January 2018 (Careers guidance and access for education and training providers)
Careers Strategy
What is CMS Careers Strategy?
CMS Careers Strategy sets out details of our current career programme and future plans that are intended to further develop our provision. Mrs D McCrory, is leading development.
Why include a Careers Strategy within our curriculum?
At Catshill Middle School, we are committed to ensuring that our pupils are offered a broad and balanced curriculum that aims to prepare them for life in modern Britain and successful employment. As part of this commitment, we want all our pupils to understand the full range of opportunities that will be available to them and to develop the transferable skills that will help them succeed in a future job market.
We use the Compass Careers Benchmark tool to help the school to devise a coherent offer for our pupils.
The Benchmarks are as follows:
Benchmark 1 - A Stable Careers Programme
Benchmark 2 - Learning from career and labour market information
Benchmark 3 - Addressing the needs of each pupil
Benchmark 4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers
Benchmark 5 - Encounters with employers and employees
Benchmark 6 - Experiences of workplaces
Benchmark 7 - Encounters with further and higher education
Benchmark 8 - Personal Guidance
What are the intended outcomes of our Career Programme?
- To raise aspirations and challenge deeply rooted beliefs surrounding future training, employment and stereotypical thinking.
- Pupils have had the opportunities to develop ‘soft skills’, such as teamwork, problem-solving and resilience, that are highly valued by employers and which are transferable between job sectors.
- Pupils have had the opportunity to develop confidence and character through activities such as debating, cultural visits and volunteering.
- Pupils have enjoyed multiple opportunities to engage with a range of employers through assemblies, workshops, visits and mock interviews.
- Pupils, and their parents/carers, are aware of how up-to-date information regarding future careers and further education can be accessed.
- Statutory requirements, including Gatsby Benchmarks, are met.
How do we utilise external support and monitor impact?
- We forge links with local businesses and educational providers via Worcestershire Apprenticeships who support our various activities and events. In addition, we maintain links to a range of parents, governors and other external organisations who support career-based events.
- We work in partnership with our designated Enterprise Advisor and our local authority Careers and Enterprise Co-ordinator to identify and close gaps in provision; we regularly use the Compass Tool to monitor our progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks and evaluate the impact of our action plan on a termly basis.
- We forge and maintain links with STEM ambassadors to promote STEM careers.
Where are careers promoted within our curriculum?
Careers are promoted within both subject teaching, through subject-based display and additional learning opportunities; our discrete Life Skills programme included career focused units across both key stages.
Year | Opportunities |
---|---|
Year 5 | Teaching careers focussed Life Skills lessons. |
Year 6 |
STEM. Learn to Earn - Young Enterprise day visit. Teaching careers, focussed life skills lessons. |
Year 7 |
Launch Pad - Young Enterprise day visit Teaching careers, focussed life skills lessons. |
Year 8 |
Trips and visits to industry and workplaces. Teaching careers, focussed life skills lessons. Worcester Apprenticeship assembly. Careers afternoon. |