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 2023, meeting 7 of the 8 benchmarks in full and the other by 40%. We are currently working to achieve that benchmark by increasing pupil and staff access to Labour Market Information and ensuring that learning is well linked to it.
We are also increasing and improving our careers information for pupils in 2023-24 by ensuring the following opportunities for pupils:
September 25th-29th – FutureSmart Careers will be providing 1:1 careers advice to all Year 9 and 11 pupils.
November 13th-17th – Work Experience opportunities will be offered to Year 11 pupils.
May 20th-24th – 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 and 8
During Year 7, pupils start to focus on their own skills, qualities and understanding of how they link to different roles within the working world. They explore current job sectors and how the job market is evolving locally, nationally and globally. Human rights within the workplace, the law and discrimination are also covered. The concept of being enterprising is touched upon.
We consider personal achievements and qualifications; pupils explore the difference between skills and qualities.
In Year 8, pupils re-visit career aspirations whilst looking at financial responsibilities as they get older and also personal financial responsibility. There is attention paid to jobs which may be held and the life chances this affords the individual.
From Year 8, through to Year 11, pupils are also given 6 meaningful encounters/meetings with providers of T-Level/apprenticeships, beginning in the autumn term.
Year 9: Options Year
Throughout Year 9, during lessons and the Annual Review process, pupils begin to think about the next step in their education.
Pupils and their families are engaged in the process of deciding which subjects will best support the pupil in their future plans. The options are formally agreed with the school by the end of term 6; they will have been agreed by all stakeholders.
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. The outcomes from the PSHEE programme feed into the Annual Review, in light of possible career options.
In Year 9, pupils will also receive their first 1:1 meeting with a L6 qualified Careers Advisor to discuss further education and careers options.
From Year 8, through to Year 11, pupils are also given 6 meaningful encounters/meetings with providers of T-Level/apprenticeships, beginning in the autumn term.
Year 10 and 11
The programme at Key Stage 4 further develops the work carried out during Key Stage 3; there is a deliberate design to allow the pupils to see the progression.
During Year 10, pupils prepare for and carry out, work experience. They will then evaluate their performance in the work place and understand the value of post-16 education.
In Year 11, the culmination of all of the prior learning is consolidated through the process of choosing and applying for post-16 courses whether a college course or an apprenticeship. Pupils will also have their second opportunity to meet with a L6 qualified Careers Advisor, as well as a further opportunity to undertake work experience.
Following the programme constructed, pupils will be equipped to make informed choices about courses and consider life post-16. This experience will be personalised to each cohort and individuals as appropriate.
From Year 8, through to Year 11, pupils are also given 6 meaningful encounters/meetings with providers of T-Level/apprenticeships, beginning in the autumn term.
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: