Careers

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance at William Farr School

A good quality careers guidance and education programme will raise the aspirations of all young people. It will increase motivation by linking activities in school with preparation for life post 16 and post 18. The school provides extensive opportunities for internal and external providers to meet with students to provide careers and labour market information. We believe all students are entitled to receive high quality careers guidance to develop their career management skills. Careers guidance will contribute to raising pupil achievement, help students focus on their longer-term career ambitions and ensure an equality of opportunity for all.

At William Farr Academy we provide a comprehensive programme to all students in every year group, this includes aspects of work related learning, enterprise education, option choices, PSME lessons and information surrounding RPA (raising of the participation age). Students in our Sixth Form are very well supported as they make their applications to University, apply for Higher Level Apprenticeships, plan a Gap year, prepare for employment or other non-University post 18 pathways. Most of our careers programme is delivered through PSME but this is supplemented by additional activities such as the Careers Fair, Ace days, drop in days, assemblies and information evenings

Through formal and informal evaluations the school annually assesses the impact of the careers programme on students .we would also welcome feedback from parents on careers.  The low number of NEETS (students age 16 to 18 who are not in Education, Employment or Training) is an indication of the effectiveness of the programme. In the recent Whole School Student Voice survey (which can be found in the 'Information' section), 49% of students felt they were prepared for employment and 59% thought they felt prepared for the stages of transition through and after school.  76% of students thought they had good communication skills, 66% felt they were organised and reliable, and 80% felt they were good at working in a team.  Views are also sought from all stakeholders and the programme evolves year on year to consider the needs of students and the local, national and global jobs market. The school also works with the National Citizenship Service which allows students to develop their skills and work within the community.

Please refer to the careers policy document for details of student entitlement and related information about the programme. All information, together with the careers policy, is reviewed and updated bi- annually, usually at the start of the new academic year, however information may be revised throughout the year to reflect new regulations and/or to meet the additional needs of students. The date of the next review is September 2020.

It is important to equip our students with the necessary skills for them to career plan and know how and where to access impartial and unbiased information. William Farr contracts an independent careers advisor. This post is currently held by

Mrs Nikki Smith. BSc (Hons) Life Sciences

LDSS NQV 4 Information Advice & Guidance

QCF Level 6 Diploma in Carers Guidance & Development

Email careers@williamfarr.lincs.sch.uk

Any student can request an individual appointment with our independent adviser in any year group or use the drop in sessions held at lunchtime.

Additionally, as part of their entitlement, students have access to a range of external providers to ensure they learn about approved technical qualifications and apprenticeships. Please see our Careers Provider Policy by going to the 'Governing Body' section on the menu to the left of this page, and selecting the 'School Policies' link.  Our Careers Access policy may also be found here.

Our NEET (not in employment, education or training) figures remain very low. Our 2018 Year 11 leavers progressed successfully onto the pathways of their choice with 99.50% of the cohort meeting the RPA (raising of the participation age) Compliance, compared with a 94.63% England and 95.73% Lincolnshire statistic.

The Careers programme is developed in consideration of the CDI (Career Development Institute) framework and the Gatsby Report's eight benchmarks. The eight areas are:

• A stable careers programme
• Career and labour market information
• Addressing the needs of all students
• Careers in the curriculum
• Encounters with employers
• Work experience
• And other experiences of the workplace
• Experiences of HE,FE and work-based training
• Personal guidance

The guidance from the DfE places a duty on schools to secure access to unbiased and impartial careers guidance for their students.

The school shares student data with the external careers guidance practitioner so that impartial and individual advice can be offered. During the interview process the student is asked to provide consent to opt in to the sharing of their data to key members of staff and parents/carers. In addition, intended destination data is provided to Lincolnshire County Council, as per the DfE requirement, so they can also provide additional support to students, where necessary, once they leave school.

We are currently renewing our policy towards work experience and hope year12 students will have the opportunity to undertake a week of work experience in 2012/20 and year 10 in 2020/21

Careers guidance is on-going throughout each academic year and is supported by a well-stocked careers library with open access to all years at all times. Here students can research, review and investigate of all the pathways and options available to them. This area will be updated on an annual basis’s so only current relevant materials covering all available options are included.

For further information about our careers and work related programme please contact our careers leader:

Mrs H Bates, Assistant Head Teacher on 01673 886900 or email: h.bates@williamfarr.lincs.sch.uk

Calendar of career events:

Note:

Independent Careers Advisor available to all years for one to one sessions; all students are seen by the time they finish Year11 and again in Year 12 or 13. Any student on the SEN register are seen each year and an action plan given for reviews. We also have drop in sessions twice a week on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes in the Careers Office in Resources.