Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

Inspiring Futures

At King Charles I School, we place a high value on preparing our students for their future lives and potential careers. We aim to provide a strategic and integral approach to careers education, information, advice and guidance, inspiring students to think more broadly about career options. Our plan is designed to equip all young people with the appropriate knowledge, skills and understanding to progress to the next stage of education and/or training. It will provide an insight into the world of work through careers activities; engagement with local employers; work based education; enterprise events; lesson opportunities; face to face independent external career interviews; visits; university talks; apprenticeship presentations and inspirational talks from returning students.

All registered pupils at the school are provided with independent careers guidance from year 7 (11 years old) to year 13 (17-18 years old). Careers guidance is presented:

In an impartial manner
Includes information on the range of education or training options, including apprenticeships and other vocational pathways
Guidance will promote the best interests of the students to whom it is given.

In order to measure and assess the impact of our career’s programme, we use a range of indicators such as GCSE and A Level outcomes, destinations data, Key Stage 5 retention rates and the Compass tool. The Compass tool is updated on a termly basis and helps us to measure our progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks. The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of eight guidelines that stipulate what makes the best careers provision in schools. Further information on the Gatsby Benchmarks can be found by clicking on the link here.

For further information on how we are ensuring that all of our students acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to manage their learning and career progression please see our School Career Strategy and Action Plan by clicking here. This document is reviewed and updated on termly basis.

Education and Training Providers

The Careers Education and Guidance within King Charles I School and Sixth Form is greatly enhanced through links with a number of partners who help the school to provide up to date information on all education and training providers within the local area. As well as the strong links with Worcester Apprenticeship Hub and local FE and HE colleges, the school constantly strives to expand and improve links with employers and other local groups. This involvement includes the provision of work experience placements, focus groups, assembly talks, careers workshops and mock interview sessions.

Further information about this can be found by clicking on the link here where you can view our School Provider Access Policy.

External Career Advisor Support

We have a strong ongoing programme of external Careers Education Advice, Information and Guidance (CEIAG). Our students continue to benefit from a fully qualified and experienced external careers adviser, Sally Beech. All Year 11 students are provided with one, two or three individual interviews and Year 12 and 13 students can book appointments for those who require it but specifically those not pursuing a Higher Education pathway.

For further information about Post 16 options please click here to access our ‘Beyond 16: A guide to your post-16 options and career planning 2020/21'

If you wish to contact someone at the school about working with us in the future, or other similar matters please do so; we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Melanie Thomas at the school address, 01562 512880 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Business and Enterprise Events

We are also leading the way in Business and Enterprise provision for our young people. We have our own award-winning Community Interest Company (CIC), Cattleya, who make delicious fruit cocktails with ethically sourced fruit from Columbia. All year groups are involved in a range of enterprise events. These include:

Year 7 Enterprise Experience Day - Career Workshops
Year 8 Enterprise Challenge Day
Year 9 Employability Day
Year 10 World of work Day
Year 12 Young Enterprise

Career Educational Events

Every year we plan and organise, visits, activities and events that enable our young people to explore careers and the world of work. Our students meet a range of employers and work with a variety of representatives from businesses, training providers and key stakeholders. As well as some of our best local employers, these include politicians, past students and entrepreneurs.

All year groups attend a careers fair
Careers workshops
Choosing KS4 options events
Year 11 mock interview day
Year 12 higher education fair
Apprenticeship week activities
Apprenticeship evening
Sixth Form experience day
Post 16 subject talks
Local college talks

University Events

Every year we plan and organise visits to universities for our students. We also invite representatives from universities both locally and nationally to come into school to talk to our students about all aspects of going to university. All of our students are exposed to several university related activities in Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 to enable them to consider it as a future option.

Learning Outcomes per Key Stage

KS2 Feeder Schools

Students:

understand how the basics of Business and Enterprise work

Key Stage 3

Students:

understand the importance of maths and English to gain a grade 4 or better.
explain the requirements of a particular job that appeals to them and identify the skills that they possess to justify this as a choice for them.
understand different viewpoints about careers and work besides their own and to open their minds to new possibilities.
focus on what they have to offer in career terms
identify readily with former students and their career pathway.
describe FE, HE and apprenticeship courses

Key Stage 4

Students:

identify a number of possible pathways available for post 16 studies.
write a personal statement and a CV.
explain how their work experience was related to their career aspirations.
develop their capacity for self-reflection and realistic appraisal of their choices and opportunities.
successfully apply for post 16 courses.

Key Stage 5

Students:

identify what financial support is available at university.
apply successfully to a university or equally recognised apprenticeship.
confidently interview for employment or university place drawing on skills developed through sixth form study.
make sense of the complex interactions between self, role, relationships and situation in terms of career choice and progression.
demonstrate adaptability and resilience, solve problems and develop robust propositions relating to career choice and attainment.
produce an enhanced CV, personal statement and UCAS application or letter of application.

Post Sixth Form Pathway Support

All our students are encouraged to consider University as a possible future option and students are exposed to several University presentations throughout Key Stage 3, 4 and 5.

The Higher Education/Employment Programme

During tutor time, students plan and prepare for their post 18 options. The Sixth Form team and visiting experts offer support for future planning. All students applying to university will have one to one support to help complete applications for student finance and writing UCAS personal statements. University taster days and open days also offer students the opportunity to find out more about study and student life. We allow students five such visits during their time in Sixth Form and also arrange a whole year visit to the regional Higher Education Convention. In the summer term of Year 12, we hold our ‘UCAS Evening’. This evening is designed to inform students and their parents/carers about the full range of opportunities for education, training and employment post 18. In particular, it covers the procedures for applications for higher education through UCAS. There is also information on careers, gap years and financial implications. Students also have the opportunity to access an independent careers advisor.

Not going to University

As a school committed to provide external, impartial advice and guidance not all of our students wish to progress to University but are still offered support to ensure they are entering into a high quality alternative. All students are offered independent careers advice. Relevant events are publicised; a variety of assemblies are used to inform and where there is particular interest in a career path we endeavor to run appropriate information workshops including one to one apprenticeship application support and guidance from an external specialist advisor.

Work Experience

In contrast to the worrying national picture for work experience, we are keen to continue our offer by providing a growing range of work placement opportunities for our young people.

Our aims:

To complete a work experience, relevant to their young career aspirations.
Provide opportunities for students to acquire and practice fundamental employability skills.

Work experience is completed in both Year 10 and Year 12. Students will gain self-confidence in an alternative setting, develop communication and organisational skills but crucially students have the opportunity to develop experience and skills required that particular occupational sector. Relevant work experience is deemed desirable by employers and it helps students decide if it could be a career for them. It enhances the CV of our students. Several planning and reflection tutorials take place to ensure that the experience is not an isolated activity.

For further information about sixth form please click here

Looking for information about different careers?

Deciding what you want to do in the future can be a very difficult task as the possibilities are endless. Starting early and doing your research is the key. Below are a number of websites that you can use to find out about different careers and training routes in order to help you make an informed decision about your future.

General information about careers

skills4worcestershire

A new online careers tool for Worcestershire providing up to date information on:

Employers in Worcestershire
Worcestershire Labour Market Information
CV Writing
Careers advice
Careers events
Interview tips
Support for parents
Career pathways

National Careers Service

The national careers service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. It allows you to look through different job profiles giving you an idea of what each job entails.

icould

icould have video clips of people talking about their jobs. Students are able to search for subjects related careers and take a Buzz Test to generate idea/ potential pathways.

Careers Box

Careers box have video clips of people talking about their jobs.

Careers Gateway

Careers gateway provides an on-line careers library for you to look through.

Practise Reasoning - Psychometric Tests

Some jobs and apprenticeships require a psychometric test as part of the interview. Practice these test for free to fully prepare for interviews.

Thinking about going to university?

UCAS

The UCAS website for students, parents & teachers provides advice and guidance on application into higher eductation.

Parent Adviser

Information for parents on post 18 options, the relevant advantages & disadvantages of each route plus associated costs.

Olivia and Dad

This is a Question and Answer video between Olivia and her dad about university. It answers a lot of questions that you may have about university.

Playlist

This is a playlist that will be updated as specific videos aimed at parents are uploaded. They cover important topics such as UCAS and Student Finance. There are currently six videos uploaded.

Thinking about apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships.gov

An apprenticeship is a great way to both gain qualifications and valuable work experience whilst earning money. National Apprenticeship website provides information on apprenticeship options and current vacancies.

notgoingtouni

A website featuring a range of apprenticeship and other opportunities aimed at those students who may not wish to continue into Higher Education.

How Parents Can Help

A comprehensive guide on how parents can support and guide their child in making next step decisions with some excellent links and ideas to engage and spark conversations.

LMI Guide for Parents

Labour market information guide for parents with useful websites and sources of labour market information.

Thinking about a careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)?

etrust

EDT is an independent registered charity, established in 1984, running schemes to inspire and motivate young people to choose a career in STEM subjects.

Key Stage 3 Videos and activities related to various STEM industries.

Key Stages 4 and 5 Videos and activities related to various STEM industries.

Thinking about a career in law?

All About Law

The UK’s most used law careers information resource providing students with legal careers information.