Careers Education Policy

At Harris Academy St Johns Wood we believe a robust careers curriculum is essential to ensuring that all students have the knowledge and skills required to make informed decisions about their future and always aspire to be better. Each student will receive personalised support based upon their interests and aspirations, will be challenged to reflect and set targets in order to achieve their goals. The careers education and guidance (CEIAG) at HASJW provides are range of opportunities, experiences and encounters with a range of external providers and career pathways for students. 

Careers leader: Kate Kopelman  

Email: kate.kopelman@harrisstjohnswood.org.uk 

SLT Lead: Laura Lewis 

Email: laura.lewis@harrisstjohnswood.org.uk 

Community Support for the Academy: We are always keen to develop contacts within the community to develop our careers programme to the highest level. We are keen to hear from businesses who would be able to support activities within the academy, and welcome support from further education providers including colleges, university, or further education providers. If you can support our school community, please contact kate.kopelman@harrisstjohnswood.org.uk 

Student Entitlement 

• A careers programme throughout their time at the Academy  

• Education opportunities about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, and information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point. 

• A programme which develops the skills required for each individual student regardless of their personal goal, aspiration and direction. 

• Independent advice from careers advisors and other education providers. 

• Subject specific curricula and tutor programme that supports the development of an understanding of links between subjects and careers. 

• Exposure to a range of local providers and information about the opportunities they offer,– through options events, assemblies and group discussions, placement visits, taster events and workshops. 

• To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses and be assisted in this course of action. 

• To have meaningful interactions with employers across a range of specialisms and business sectors throughout their time at the Academy. 

Aims of Careers Education and Guidance at HASJW 

• Inspire and motivate students to challenge themselves to reach their full academic and personal potential. 

• Ensure that each individual student has the information they require to make decisions for Key Stage 4 options, Post 16 destination and Post 18 education, training, or employment. 

• Each student has access to personal careers education and guidance. 

• Information provided to students is informed by career and labour market information.  

• The curriculum makes clear links to careers.  

• Students have access to encounters with employers and employees from different industries. 

• Students are given access to have experience within workplaces.  

• There are a variety of encounters with further and higher education institutions offered to students. 

Objectives 

Student 

Parents / Carers 

Teachers / Tutors 

• Skills set development that is ‘employability fit’ for a variety of career pathways.   

• Knowledge development of careers and work-related learning to make informed ‘future choices.’  

• Personal growth & development by taking responsibility for their own personal standards, behaviour, attendance, punctuality, attitude to learning and resilience.  

• Learning enrichment: students access external speaker events of different industries to explore different careers. 

• Support the Academy in its development CEIAG curriculum.  

• Encourage students to engage with careers outreach programmes such as work experience and careers fairs.  

• Discuss careers options and access careers platforms such as Unifrog. 

• Engage with CEIAG delivery. through home-based discussions, supporting child with career planning tasks and Academy opportunities. 

• Deliver the planned tutor CEIAG activities within the pastoral programme.  

• Promote enterprising and problem-solving skills to develop student resilience and independence.  

• Application of learning to the ‘real’ world of work and careers.  

• Links to careers within subjects developed and made apparent to students within everyday learning. 

Curriculum Design to Support Delivery of CEIAG 

KS3 

KS4 

KS5 

Students consider what they will do when they leave school and be made aware of the full range of pathways available to them 

• Exploring the real ‘working world’: within subject areas; links to skills, training and career pathways are shared with students… planting ‘seeds’ for KS4 options for exploration.  

• Making the links: Engaging students with their learning journeys and cross-subject links; trips and speakers are arranged.  

• Future setting: Students are provided with careers seminars with a focus on understanding the careers market and making decisions for their own future. This is designed to support their GCSE choices. They are also introduced to college and apprenticeship opportunities.  

Students consider in more depth which learning pathway they wish to follow and research the learning and qualification requirements for jobs of interest to them 

• Broad course offer: a rich and varied course offer ensure that students are not limiting their options, post GCSE / Level 2. GCSE and Technical Award courses are offered to ensure that students can access the required learning and assessment methods. This ensures that students achieve and also gives them the power to make ‘choices’ at GCE /Level 3 programmes of study or training.  

• Making the links: Engaging students with their learning journeys and cross-subject links; trips and speakers are arranged.  

• Future setting: post-16 choices and advice is offered within subject areas and in assemblies via talks about college and apprenticeship opportunities. 

• Careers service: Expert advice and guidance is available for students to explore pathways and courses on offer within the Federation and from external providers within different fields of study.  These services are provided by a qualified careers advisor and trainee apprentice* 

Students understand the skills they have developed and the different career options and pathways with a focus on preparing for next steps into training, work, university and apprenticeships 

• Diverse course offer: we work with the Federation to ensure that students enter a programme of study that is made up of three subjects that are ‘complimentary ‘of each other, rather than limiting. This ensures that students have a breadth of study that empowers them to make tailored choices, post GCE / Level 3 studies.  

• Personal Development: is evidenced during the UCAS application process and through support with applications to colleges and apprenticeships. Students are encouraged to engage in ‘out the classroom’ activities to boost their personal statements and demonstrate their aptitude for the applied course / training opportunities. 

• Industry links & speakers: opportunities for students to engage with employers and 4 employees from different sectors enhance their subject ‘learning journeys’. 

Careers Opportunities at HASJW 

Year Group 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

Spotlight on careers tutor time sessions by tutors, subject specific careers information, starting with Year 9 and 11 

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Access to and use of UniFrog with supported learning access and learning tutorials 

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Employability skills developed in PSHRE sessions 

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Careers workshops: knowledge of the world of work, knowledge of different career paths, support with target setting, links with external providers and speakers 

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Careers assemblies, including talks from colleges and about apprenticeships 

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1:1 careers interview with careers adviser, with priority given to vulnerable students 

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Drop in lunch time sessions with careers advisor in careers office in the library 

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Small group careers guidance sessions with careers advisor to explore post-16 options, progression routes and next steps to secure ‘destination’ choices 

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Additional interviews with careers advisor for additional support and follow up for target student groups 

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Individual interviews and workshops with those students seeking or considering employment, apprenticeships or School Leaver schemes – including bespoke Year 13 tutor group for these students 

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Identification and tracking of students identified as at risk NEET. Support and workshops delivered by Westminster Council outreach. College support on academic review days. Support with apprenticeship and college applications. Intended and actual destinations tracked and reported. 

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Careers advisor to attend parents and information evenings. 

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Harris experience: individual and group interviews. 

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Tracking intended and actual destinations for 6th form school leavers and reporting to the LA. 

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National careers week and National Apprenticeship Week workshops in tutor time 

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PSHRE lessons in summer term with teachers trained by Careers lead 

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Careers Focus ‘drop-down day’ with talks from The Money Charity 

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REED interview skill development and practice 

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Careers fair (‘speed dating’ event with external providers, including colleges, universities and employers) and speakers) 

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Guest speaker weekly lectures (all year 12s, some year 11s and 13s) 

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Talks with alumni 

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STEM healthcare and careers day 

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Next Steps event with talks from universities and employers 

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Medic Mentor conference 

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Post-16 information evening and provider fair 

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6th Form experience afternoon  

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University visits  

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Pathways CTM mentoring and interventions 

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LSB talks and partnerships 

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VisionPath workshop 

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6f bulletins about upcoming Work experience opportunities  

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Work experience week 

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University fair at Tottenham Stadium  

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Nestle and Wildhearts workshops 

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Year 13 Careers Prefects supporting younger students (through routine ‘drop in session’ and student-run Medical/Dentistry society) 

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Options information evening and subject ‘marketplace’ 

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Subject specific assemblies / tutor sessions discussing skills they develop and career pathways these can link to 

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Parent coffee morning for parents of vulnerable students with careers advisor 

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Community Service program 

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‘13D’ intervention tutor group for students needing support with apprenticeship applications 

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Student survey on careers provision 

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Friday tutor time – Careers focused 

(Term 1&2: apprenticeships and university, Term 3&4: CVs and labour markets, Term 5&6: applications and work experience) 

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Focus 

Year group 

Title 

Assembly / workshop / PSHRE 

Term 

Gatsby Focus 

Students consider what they will do when they leave school and be made aware of the full range of pathways available to them 

7 

Aspirations and values (visit from Capital City College group) 

Assembly 

Aut 

2 

7 

Dream jobs and links to subjects (after 1st assessment) 

PSHRE 

Sum 

2 

7 

Local careers 

Assembly 

Spr 

6 

7 

Work based challenges 

PSHRE 

Sum 

6 

7 

Banking and Saving with The Money Charity employees 

Workshop 

Spr 

6 

8 

Values and jobs 

PSHRE 

Sum 

2 

8 

Education Paths 

Assembly 

Aut 

2 

8 

Types of employment 

Assembly 

Spr 

5 

8 

Goal setting and meeting targets 

PSHRE 

Sum 

6 

8 

Employer carousel 

Workshop 

Sum 

6 

9 

Making informed choices – introduction to Unifrog 

PSHRE (tutor time) 

Aut 

2 

9 

Influencing decisions and aspirations: an introduction to Unifrog 

Assembly 

Aut 

2 

9 

Career paths 

PSHRE 

Sum 

5 

9 

Education paths 

Assembly 

Aut 

5 

9 

Local Careers 

Assembly 

Aut 

6 

9 

Capital City College group visit 

Assembly 

Sum 

2 

9 

Enhancing aspiration / interviews with external providers 

PSHRE / workshop 

Sum 

6 

Students consider in more depth which learning pathway they wish to follow and research the learning and qualification requirements for jobs of interest to them 

10 

Target setting for your careers – introduction to Unifrog 

Workshop (tutor time) 

Spr 

2 

10 

Money management workshop with The Money Charity 

PSHRE 

Spr 

2 

10 

What is a CV?  

Workshop (tutor time) 

Spr 

2 

10 

Research your career 

Workshop 

Spr 

5 

10 

Types of Employment 

Assembly 

Spr 

5 

10 

Post-16 and beyond (Capital City College Group) 

Assembly 

Spr 

6 

11 

Careers Fair (Careers Speed dating) 

Workshop 

Aut 

6 

11 

Career pathways/Introduction to Unifrog 

Workshop 

Aut 

2 

11 

Employability 

PSHRE 

Sum 

6 

11 

Making decisions for next year 

Assembly 

Spr 

7 

11 

Capital City College visit 

Assembly 

Aut 

7 

11 

Apprenticeship vs. University 

Assembly & Open Evening 

Aut 

2 

11 

Managing choices for education – with Westminster Employment Services 

Workshop (tutor time) 

Spr 

5 

11 

Bespoke support post-16 choices / pathways and target setting 

Academic review days 

Aut / Spr 

2 / 5 

Students understand the skills they have developed and the different career options and pathways with a focus on preparing for next steps into training, work, university and apprenticeships. 

12 

Guest speaker assemblies 

(including with alumni) 

Assembly 

Aut/Spr/Sum 

1 

12 

Friday tutor time – Careers focused 

(Term 1&2: apprenticeships and university, Term 3&4: CVs and labour markets, Term 5&6: applications and work experience)  

Assemblies and workshops 

Aut/Spr/Sum 

1/2/4 

12 

Community Service 

Trip 

Aut/Spr/Sum 

6 

12 

UK University Fair Trip 

Trip 

Spr 

7 

12 

UCAS and Unifrog introduction 

PSHRE 

Spr/Sum 

3 

12 

Work experience Week 

PSHRE 

Sum 

6 

12 

Visiting University Panel Discussion 

Assembly 

Sum 

7 

12 

London Business School Guru lectures 

Trip 

Spr/Sum 

7 

12 & 13 

Harris Federation Step Up event (talks with universities and employers) 

Virtual Workshops 

Spr 

1/2 

12 

Careers speed-dating event 

Workshop 

Sum 

2 / 5 

12 & 13 

Medicine/Dentists/Oxbridge Lunchtime clubs 

Workshop 

Sum 

3 

12 

Vision Path introductory workshop 

Workshop 

Sum 

2 

12&13 

Medicine/Dentistry Society 

Workshop 

Aut/Spr 

2 

13 

‘13D’ intervention tutor group for students needing support with apprenticeship applications 

workshops 

Spr 

8 

13 

UCAS and Unifrog  

PSHRE 

Aut/Spr 

3 / 8