Careers Support
Our Aims
The aims of The King’s School Careers Guidance Programme are:
- To help our students to understand and explore all the options and pathways that are open to them
- To raise students’ aspirations and challenge stereotypes
- To address the needs of all our students, and provide independent advice that is in their individual best interests
- To meet the Gatsby Benchmarks – a series of benchmarks that set out best practice in the provision of careers guidance activities.
We want to prepare our students for life after school, so that when students leave after Year 11 or 13 they do so with confidence and optimism in their chosen next steps.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Careers Programme, please contact the Careers Coordinator.
Our Programme
In line with the Gatsby Benchmarks, The King’s School delivers a stable and structured programme of careers education and work related learning to all students in Years 7-13. This programme is delivered by individuals with the right skills and experiences, from a wide variety of providers both internal and external to the school.
|
Year |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Year 7 |
Introduction to Careers (via PSHE) |
|
Year 8 |
What career (personality)? (via PSHE) |
|
Year 9 |
Careers linked to subjects (via GCSE options lessons) Coaching & Mentoring (invitation only, delivered by external coaches) |
| Year 10 |
Mini Enterprise (via PSHE) Work Experience (during Project Week, with preparation and de-brief via PSHE) |
| Year 11 |
Mock Interviews, CVs and Application Forms (via PSHE) Careers linked to subjects (via A level / Level 3 options lessons) Personal Careers Interview (independent Careers Advisor via CSW*) |
| Year 12 |
Higher Education Fair (at Westpoint) Work Experience (during Project Week) Mock Assessment Centre Exercise (via PSHE) |
| Year 13 | Individual support with UCAS, apprenticeship and employment applications. |
* The CSW Group Adviser is also available in school for events including ‘Post 16 Options’, Year 9 Parents / Options Evening and on GCSE and A Level results days. They are also available to 6th Formers on request and to Year 10 on an invitation-only basis.
Other Encounters with Employers
Throughout the year we host outside speakers through a range of mechanisms – including assemblies, lunchtime talks, or in lessons. The lunchtime talks are open to all year groups, and we invite local businesses, technical training providers and our alumni to contact us if they wish to deliver a session.
The Careers Library
The Careers Library has IT facilities for online research and key texts that are renewed annually. In addition, we provide a full set of prospectuses covering most UK Higher Education institutions, all local FE colleges and many other specialised colleges. The Careers Coordinator is based in the Careers Library, and is available to assist students at break, lunch and tutor time.
Recommended Online Resources
The websites below are for students to access information on careers and employability skills:
CareerPilot
This website provides information on the full range of choices available at 14, 16 and 18, including apprenticeships, college, higher level study, etc.
The website has a number of tools that students can use to help them plan their careers and assess their employability skills. There is also a Parent Zone with answers to career related questions.
i could
icould.com has excellent videos to inspire students, and a quiz based on Myers Briggs (the Buzz Quiz) to help students think about their personality and what type of career they might suit.
Success at school
This website has helpful articles and sections about how to develop transferable skills, information about apprenticeships, advice from people in different industries, plus industry and sector information presented in an easy-to-digest format.
Informed Choice guide
This is a Russell Group guide to making informed choices about post-16 Education. It is packed with useful information, and the “5 Point Plan” for making A Level choices is a good tool for clarifying your thoughts (see Page 56).