Careers Overview

Head of Careers: Ms J. Witherall

T: 01923 773296E: staff.witherall@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk

Policies

• Careers and Work Related Learning Policy
• Career Provider Access Policy

Overview

Careers education prepares young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.  Rickmansworth School is committed to supporting and inspiring students to achieve their full potential, raising their aspirations and empowering them to plan and manage their own futures.

For external access to our students to be part of our careers programme please see the Career Provider Access Policy and or please email/call the Head of Careers.

Rickmansworth School provides comprehensive information on all options which assists career choice, promotion of equality, diversity, social mobility and the challenging of stereotypes. We aim to inspire students to be ambitious and enterprising in their choice of career in the future. The careers programme is embedded into the curriculum and includes a variety of enrichment activities. The programme has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice, and to meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance.

The Gatsby Benchmarks:

• A stable careers programme
• Learning from career and labour market information
• Addressing the needs of each student
• Linking curriculum learning to careers
• Encounters with employers and employees
• Experience of workplaces
• Encounters with further and higher education
• Personal guidance

Statutory Requirements

The careers provision at Rickmansworth School is in line with the statutory guidance. This states that all schools should provide independent careers guidance from Years 8 -13 (we also think starting in year 7 is important) and that this guidance should:

• Be impartial
• Include information on a range of pathways, including university options or apprenticeships
• Be adapted to the needs of the student

This guidance states that all academies must give education and training providers the opportunity to talk to students about approved technical qualifications and apprenticeships.

Provision

The current careers programme is delivered through a combination of methods, including lessons provided within the taught PHSE programme in Year 7 through to Year 13, which is predominantly form tutor-led. Careers information is available both in the Library, and in digital format via Unifrog, a platform which provides access to information on apprenticeships, universities, the labour market, career pathways and UCAS applications.

At Key Stage 3

Students benefit from careers modules in PHSE, assemblies and research using Unifrog. They have the opportunity to take part in various programmes such as the Watford Football Club Inspires Programme, the Young Enterprise ‘Tenner’ Challenge, work shadowing, Careers Week and 'Which Way Now?' as well as Options assemblies and Options Evening.

At Key Stage 4

Students continue research into careers and pathways into the Sixth Form, Higher Education and apprenticeships. Students develop skills in CV preparation, letter writing, presentations and interviews. This includes a mock interview with an employer, one week of work experience, assemblies on going to college, apprenticeships and A level options, to include an A level options evening for parents. Individual interviews are held with the Head of Careers or Services for Young People Hertfordshire.

At Key Stage 5

A series of careers lectures are delivered from universities and employers. Some of these lectures, together with form time, are devoted to the topic of UCAS applications, apprenticeship applications and interview skills. Year 12 has one week of work experience and students are involved in volunteering with younger students/departments and the wider community. Individual careers interviews are held with the Head of Careers or Services for Young People Hertfordshire. Two 'Destinations Days' are offered plus the opportunity to take part in the Advertising Unlocked Challenge.

Careers and SEND Provision

Every student with SEND follows the same programme of careers as their peers, with adaption and support from the SEND team where appropriate.

Students with SEND have an interview with the Head of Careers in Year 9 before the options process to enable early identification of any necessary adaptions or interventions according to need in order to support their career aspirations.

Partnerships

The CEIAG programme is greatly enhanced through links which help to ensure that student learning is current and relevant. We work closely with local employers and employees including previous students, parents and other local groups. Several events, integrated into the school careers programme, offer providers an opportunity to come in to School to speak to students and/or their parents. This involvement enhances the provision of work experience placements, careers talks, workplace visits and mock interviews. We work closely with the Careers and Enterprise Company and The Compass survey provided by the Careers and Enterprise Company assists with recording the school’s progress in meeting the Gatsby benchmarks and evaluating our programme. Rickmansworth School have a contract with Services for Young People Hertfordshire, part of Hertfordshire County Council to help us provide impartial information, advice and guidance and personal and social development opportunities for our students.

Careers Programme

The careers programme and information published is reviewed annually in July.

A number of events integrated into our careers programme offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students an/or their parents/carers.

Parents can obtain careers information about the labour market here

For external access to our students to be part of our careers programme please see the Career Provider Access Policy and or please email the head of careers.

Evaluation of Careers Provision