Careers Guidance and Work-related Curriculum
At Downland School we are passionate about ensuring that all pupils receive good quality career advice throughout the time they are with us, starting in Year 7. The 2002 Education Act states that schools must provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum for all pupils. Pupils receive this information through well-crafted PSHEE lessons embedded in the ‘Living in the wider world’ strand. All curriculum areas promote career pathways which are viable through being successful within that area; the final element of this is exposing our pupils to inspiring individuals from the world of work and age-appropriate work-experience.
Our aim is to provide every pupil with the knowledge and awareness of what opportunities are accessible to them, both locally and nationally. Through providing a comprehensive, engaging and well-developed work-related programme we expose all of our pupils to an experience which aims to enhance their aspiration and prepare them for their transition to post-16 education. The curriculum includes aspects of learning about the world of work, enterprise education, informed career choices and development of skills in preparedness for adulthood.
CEIAG (Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance) will, therefore, contribute to raising pupils’ achievement; help pupils focus on their longer-term career ambitions and ensure an equality of opportunity for all. Additionally, the high quality Work Experience we provide in Key Stage 4 will support pupils experience and prepare for both further education and the world of work.
In line with the SEND code of practice, the school uses the Year 9 annual review to engage pupils, parents/carers and outside stakeholders in supporting pupils have initial conversations regarding their preferred Post-16 pathway.
Throughout Year 9 and Key Stage 4, pupils receive a high level of support to determine and apply for post-16 courses at college or apprenticeships. The majority of the pupils from Downland progress to main-stream colleges, public services or apprenticeships.
For more information for parents/carers on local labour markets, and for help with talking to your child about careers, please click here.
Key aims of CEIAG at Downland School:
- To equip pupils with the necessary decision making skills about future progression and their destination when they leave.
- To provide pupils with current information on courses at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5.
- To give opportunity for maximum exploration of future careers including work experience opportunities, where possible.
- To understand how the ‘world of work’ works.
- To keep up-to-date with new careers emerging from technological advances.
- To ensure all Year 11 pupils have at least one post-16 pathway guaranteed when leaving.
The Gatsby Benchmarks
The DfE’s guidance states that all schools and colleges should aim to meet the Gatsby Foundation’s Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance and The Careers and Enterprise Company: Gatsby Benchmark Toolkits for Schools.
The 8 Gatsby Benchmarks are designed to be linked together to help schools, special schools and colleges deliver the very best careers provision. We use the Compass assessment tool to measure our progress in meeting the Benchmarks.
We are currently, as of July 2024, meeting 7 of the 8 benchmarks in full and the other by 90%.
We are also increasing and improving our careers information for pupils in 2024-25 by ensuring the following opportunities for pupils:
September 23th-27th – FutureSmart Careers will be providing 1:1 careers advice to all Year 9 and 11 pupils.
November 18th-22nd – Work Experience opportunities will be offered to Year 11 pupils.
May 19th-23rd – Work Experience opportunities will be offered to Year 10 pupils.
Throughout the year we will also be having talks from T-Level and Apprenticeship providers from Wiltshire College, Fairfield Farm College and the Army.
We review our progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks at least 3 times per academic year to ensure we are continuing to meet them and provide for our pupils.
Statutory Requirements
All schools have a legal requirement to provide all pupils with guidance and reference materials relating to careers education and career opportunities (Section 45 of the 1997 Education Act).
The statutory career guidance duty (2011 Education Act) requires school to ensure that all pupils are provided with independent careers guidance from Year 8 to Year 11. The guidance should be presented in an impartial manner, provide information on the range or education and training options, including apprenticeships and other vocational pathways and always be in the best interests of each pupil.
To see our latest Gatsby Evaluation, please click here.
OFSTED
All schools and colleges are expected to be accountable to Ofsted for their performance. In full inspections, inspectors are required to make judgements about careers. Included in the quality of education judgement on impact, e.g. they are looking for evidence that pupils are ready for the next stage of education, employment and training. Where relevant they gain qualifications that allow them to go on to destinations that meet their interests and aspirations.
The Personal Development judgement is related to personal career development. Inspectors will evaluate the school’s ability to prepare pupils for future success in their next steps.
The Leadership and Management judgement will consider how effectively leaders engage with pupils and others in their community, including where relevant parents, carers, employers and local services.
More information
Careers Leader
Pupils, parents/carers, teachers and employers can access information about our careers programme by contacting the Careers Leader at Downland School:
Mr Simon Emmett
simonemmett@downland.wilts.sch.uk
01380 724193
Provider Access Policy
All maintained school must provide opportunities for a range of education and training providers to have access to pupils from Year 8 to Year 13 (Year 11 at Downland).
This Provider Access Policy sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer.
Overview of Careers Programme
Years 7
In year 7, pupils work on their future aspirations and build important skills like setting goals, timekeeping, and being self-aware. They learn about their personal identity and values, improve teamwork and develop learning skills, including understanding the importance of respect in school and in their communities. Pupils explore how their identity and values can help them set future goals and discover skills to support their learning. They also learn school expectations and about the daily support available during their transition.
Year 8
In year 8, pupils focus on setting goals, building motivation, and improving self-awareness. They think about their future aspirations and different career choices while exploring their identity in the working world. Pupils learn to recognise their personal and academic strengths and own interests to boost their motivation. They discover various careers and ways to find jobs, understand job trends to help with their decisions, and learn how to manage their feelings about future jobs and career choices.
Starting in Year 8, all pupils participate in meaningful encounters or meetings with providers of T-Level courses and apprenticeships, beginning in the autumn term. These encounters help pupils explore various pathways and gain insights into the opportunities available in vocational education and training.
Year 9: Options Year
Throughout Year 9, pupils begin planning for their next steps in education during lessons and through Annual Review process.
They work with their families to select subjects that will benefit their future, with these choices formally agreed upon with the school by the end of term 6, involving all relevant stakeholders. Following the SEND code of practice, the Year 9 annual review includes discussions with pupils, parents/carers, and key stakeholders to help pupils explore their preferred post-16 pathways. In Year 9, pupils will also have their first one-on-one meeting with a Level 6 qualified Careers Advisor from Future Smart Careers to discuss further education and career options.
During PSHEE, pupils will focus on developing goal-setting, analytical skills, and decision-making regarding GCSE options, other qualifications, sources of careers advice, and employability. They will learn to evaluate the factors influencing their choices, make informed decisions about their future goals, and understand the skills needed for work, along with the laws and rights related to young people’s employment.
KS4
During years 10 and 11, pupils prepare for and undertake work experience if they are ready, allowing them to evaluate their performance and recognise the value of post-16 education.
In Year 10, they develop essential skills such as goal-setting, leadership, and presentation, while learning about employment requirements, job applications, and online presence management. They explore various post-11 options and gain practical knowledge for preparing CVs, applying for jobs and interviewing preparation.
In Year 11, pupils consolidate their learning by choosing and applying for post-16 courses, including college or apprenticeships, and have another opportunity to meet with a Level 6 qualified Careers Advisor. This year emphasises building confidence, self-worth, adaptability, and decision-making skills. Pupils learn to celebrate successes, reframe setbacks, and make informed decisions about education and career pathways while understanding various employment types and
their contractual terms. They also evaluate the financial implications of different employment models and set realistic yet aspirational life goals in preparation for adulthood.
Assessing and Measuring Impact
Downland School subscribe to a culture of continuous improvement and as such, collect regular feedback, audits and reviews to assess and develop our careers programme. We do this through an annual feedback form to parents/carers and by assessing pupil progress including feedback on work experience and careers advice sessions.
We review the careers programme annually and we request, collate and process regular feedback from a wide range of stakeholders including the pupils, their parents/carers, the college staff and employers we work with.
Useful Links
Careers links for pupils and parents/carers:
Work Wiltshire – Labour Market Information
Wiltshire College and University Centre
Useful links for employers: