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Careers Education & Guidance Policy

Introduction

Rationale

A young person's career is their pathway through learning and work. All young people need a planned programme of activities to help them make decisions and plan their careers, both in school and after they leave. The 2003 National Framework for CEG places a statutory requirement for schools to give students in Key Stages 3+ access to careers education, information and guidance. Bishop Barrington School endorses the objectives for careers education and guidance in the framework for personal, social and health education and the national framework for CEG in England.

Commitment

Bishop Barrington School is committed to providing a planned programme of careers education, information and guidance for all students in years 7-11 in partnership with the local Connexions Service. CEG is committed to meeting the statutory requirement that all young people should experience some work-related learning at Key Stage 4.

Development

This policy is developed and is reviewed annually through discussions with teaching staff; the school's personal adviser, (Moira Wilson) students, parents, governors, advisory staff and other external partners (DBLP etc.).

Links with other policies

It is underpinned by the school's policies for teaching and learning, assessment, recording and reporting achievement, PSHE and citizenship, work related learning, enterprise education, equal opportunities, health and safety, and special needs.

Objectives

Students' Needs

The careers programme is designed to meet the needs of students in Bishop Barrington School. It is differentiated to ensure progression through activities that are appropriate to students' stages of career learning, planning and development.

Entitlement

Students are entitled to careers education and guidance that is impartial and confidential. It will be integrated into their experience of the whole curriculum, based on a partnership with students and their parents or carers. The programme will promote equality of opportunity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Implementation

Management

Mr. Powell is responsible for co-ordinating the careers programme. The co-ordinator works closely with the school's Connexions Advisor and is responsible to Mr. Brown (Deputy Head). Student guidance is managed through the school's Guidance Forum led by the Connexions Advisor. Work experience is planned and implemented by Mr. Powell.

Staffing

All staff are expected to contribute to the careers education and guidance programme through their roles as tutors and subject teachers. Careers education is planned, monitored and evaluated by the careers co-ordinator in consultation with the Connexions personal adviser. Careers education is taught in Year 7 through PSHE lessons, Year 8 through the Real Game, and Year 9 through PSHE lessons. Key Stage 4 Careers is delivered in set lessons of 60 minutes per fortnight. Careers is also delivered through recording, review and planning activities and special events, through Progress Files. Specialist careers guidance is provided by the Connexions personal adviser. Careers information is available in the Connexions library which is maintained by Mrs. Davies. Administrative support is available to the careers co-ordinator as resources allow.

Curriculum

The careers programme includes careers education lessons, careers guidance activities (group work and individual interviews), information and research activities (in the Careers Library), work-related learning (including two weeks' work experience), action planning and recording achievement (Student self-assessment, using Progress Files). Other focused events, e.g. Ambassador Day, Mock Interviews, Key Skills in the Workplace, are provided from time to time. Work experience preparation and follow-up take place in careers lessons and other appropriate parts of the curriculum.

Assessment

Career learning outcomes have been identified and a framework for assessing what students have achieved is being developed for all year groups.

Partnerships

An annual Partnership Agreement is negotiated between the school and the local Connexions Service identifying the contributions to the programme that each will make. Other partnerships are being developed, e.g. with Durham Business Education Enterprise and Business Dynamics.

Resources

Funding is allocated in the annual budget planning round. Funding for developments in the school's improvement plan is considered in the context of whole school priorities. Sources of external funding are also sought, e.g. Aimhigher.

Staff development

Staff training needs for planning and delivering the careers programme will be identified in the staff development plan in the Partnership Agreement with the Connexions Service, and activities will be planned to meet them. Funding will be accessed from the Curriculum Development budget through Mrs. Gent.

Monitoring, review and evaluation

A framework for monitoring the delivery of the careers programme has been in place by September 2003. The Partnership Agreement with Connexions is reviewed annually. The programme is reviewed annually by the careers co-ordinator and the personal adviser using the local quality standards for CEG to identify desirable improvements. Evaluations are carried out from time to time.