Careers

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance at William Farr Academy

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 we provide a comprehensive programme to all students, this includes aspects of work related learning, enterprise education, option choices, economic wellbeing 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, post 16morning, drop in days, assemblies and information evenings for parents.

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.

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 is an indication of the effectiveness of the programme. Views are 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 2021.

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. Mrs Smith works in school on a Tuesday and Friday.

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 provider access policy document, linked to this page via the employers and training providers section.

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 school is working hard to meet all the Gatsby benchmarks

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 Renewed our careers policy towards work experience in 2020 to include sending our y12 out to placements for one week in June., however due to the Covid19 pandemic restrictions this was cancelled. Some students did get involved and complete a virtual work experience instead. The programme for y12 will continue in 2021, with y10 on boarding in the 2021/22 academic year.

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. We also use “Kudos” an online computer careers programme which all students have access to. A school site code is required available from Mrs Harris.

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

Or

Mrs K Harris Resource centre manager on 016730866900 ex6957 k.harris@williamfarr.lincs.sch.uk

Calendar of career events:

Note:

Independent careers advisor available all year for one to one sessions for all years, all students seen by y11 and again in y12/13, 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 Tuesday/Friday lunchtime in the resource centre /careers office.

Careers education policy

Career guidance website links:

Careers Research

https://kudos.cascaid.co.uk/#/

Information can be found and applications can be made for apprenticeships, part time jobs and different education providers.

https://www.careerswales.com/en/

This database provides a detailed description of hundreds of jobs, including qualifications, training routes, skills and qualities for entry.

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Job profiles

https://icould.com/

Careers information by sector

https://www.careersbox.co.uk/

careers information by sector

Higher Education

https://www.push.co.uk/#

a more student style course generator

https://app.centigradeonline.co.uk/login

online aptitude test costing around £20 stating what occupation might suit a candidate

Choosing and comparing universities and courses

https://www.ucas.com/

The official website for information about universities and for applying to courses.

https://university.which.co.uk/

Information about choosing courses from GCSE onwards. Degree finder, courses information and student feedback.

https://www.whatuni.com/

Course finder which enables you to search for foundation degrees, post graduate degrees and diplomas.

https://discoveruni.gov.uk/

Help with personal statements

https://www.studential.com/

general advice on applications and a really good section on personal statements including real examples on dozens of subjects.

Finance

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

where you apply for student finance

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/studentfinance/index.html

some good advice and articles about finance and debt.

https://www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk/

Search for Scholarships for your university/subject etc.

https://www.savethestudent.org/

Annually-updated guide to student finance.

Studying abroad

https://www.eunicas.co.uk/

Everything you need to know about studying abroad.

http://www.fulbright.org.uk/

(fullbright commission) – Information on studying in the USA

https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/

Opportunities to study/work in Europe as part of your degree.

Gap Year

https://www.gapyear.com/plan?partner=complexppc

Everything you need to know about taking a gap year at home or abroad.

https://yearoutgroup.org/

Find out how to plan a year out and choose a programme which best suits your needs and aspirations. Hot links to 35 of the main gap year organisations

https://lattitude.org.uk/

Overseas voluntary projects with a large number of placements worldwide

Admissions Test

https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/bmat/

Biomedical Admissions test (BMAT)

https://www.ucat.ac.uk/

Admission tests for Medicine

https://lnat.ac.uk/

Admissions tests for Law

Other websites with university/graduate info

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/

The official graduate careers website. To see what kinds of careers particular degree subjects, lead to.

https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/our-universities/

Useful information provided by the ‘Russell Group’ of 24 universities. The downloaded able ‘Informed Choices’ booklet is very good for year 11 students making post – 16 choices.

https://hecsu.ac.uk/

Research into graduate careers, including the ‘What do graduates do?’ downloadable publication.

https://brightknowledge.org/

Clear articles about different jobs. Explains a typical day, entry requirements, pay and best and worst bits about jobs.

Apprenticeships

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch

https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/

https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

Jobs search

https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/jobs

https://www.indeed.co.uk/

https://www.fish4.co.uk/

https://www.jobsite.co.uk/

Also look for recruitment agencies and employer’s own websites.

Volunteering and work experience

https://do-it.org/

search for opportunities in your local area.

http://tcv.org/

Conservation volunteering opportunities.

https://vinspired.com/

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/

For Parents

https://mailchi.mp/adcc2c0f462f/aaa-february-1642977?e=57c7362516

http://www.theparentsguideto.co.uk/

https://targetcareers.co.uk/