CAREERS ADVICE

What is Careers Information, Advice and Guidance?

We have a statutory requirement to provide students with careers information, advice and guidance. Students need to be given information on a range of choices to help them make well-informed, realistic decisions about their future options in education, training and employment. This information should be independent, impartial and in the best interests of the student.

Good careers education will support students choosing GCSE options, improve motivation, raise aspirations and encourage engagement in education. As a result of the increased choice in education options and pathways available, students may be required to make significant decisions surrounding their education from a much younger age. 

At Redborne we have a structured careers programme to support student decision making choices at different stages of their education.  

All students have the opportunity to have a careers meeting. Throughout the year there are presentations and workshops in school with the careers team and external organisations.

We promote extra curriculum activities and volunteering so students make the most of the opportunities available to them and have something to put down on college, sixth form, apprenticeship and university applications.

Our Careers Team has two in-house qualified Careers Advisers. All students have the opportunity to request an interview with a member of the Careers Team at any time throughout Years 9-13. Small group sessions or 1:1 interviews are arranged with one of our Careers Advisors for identified, targeted students (SEND, Pupil Premium, EAL) prior to the end of year 11.

Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) is provided at Redborne Upper School through the Careers Leader Mrs T Farrow and Mrs H Holbrook who are available for 1:1 appointments to provide information and to talk though options and career ideas including apprenticeships, college courses, employment, CV, Cover Letters and Work Experience training etc. Appointments are usually held in Mrs Farrow's office, Room 3 South School, Ground Floor or in Mrs Holbrook's office which is close to the 'covered walkway' South School, ground floor.

Students in years 9-11 can request an interview through their form tutor. Sixth Form students can request an interview either via their form tutor or by a direct email to Teresa Farrow, Careers Leader. At the end of the meeting every student is given an action plan to have ownership of. 

Any student who wishes to speak to the Careers Leader can either drop-in to room 3 or email Mrs Farrow to arrange a mutually convenient time.

 Pupils, parents, teachers and employers can access further information about the careers programme by contacting Teresa Farrow, Careers Leader  

Teresa.Farrow@redborne.com     01525 842676.

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Redborne Careers Curriculum

The following details our programme by year group on a half termly basis:

Year 9

Half-term	Activities
Autumn 1	Introduction to Unifrog and first log-on Talk about Communication workshop
Autumn 2	Tutor session on Essential Skills and Post-16 options (first look)
Spring 1	Assembly on GCSE choices Two tutor sessions completing their Careers booklet One ICT lesson using Unifrog for exploration and completing their Careers booklet Tutor session in preparation for the Careers Fair Attendance at the Careers Fair Tutor session reflecting on conversations and learning at the Careers Fair Tutor session in preparation for the GCSE Options Evening GCSE Options Evening
Spring 2	National Careers Week activity (subject teachers) Talk the Talk workshops
Summer 1	Ways of working & the changing nature of work
Summer 2	Six tutor time sessions
Homework	All Year 9 (Spring of the following academic year): complete the 3 Unifrog quizzes (Interests, Personality, Work Environments); discuss LMI for all and Unifrog. Access to IT in one Maths lesson – record skills on Unifrog. Begin tasks set on Google Classroom following tutor input. Continue updating skills; ensure completion of Unifrog quizzes; access Skills Builder.

 

Year 10

Half-term	Activities
Autumn 1	Students continue with Unifrog homework tasks
Autumn 2	Tutor sessions – preparation for work experience Work Experience Tutor session – reflection on work experience
Spring 1	Tutor session in preparation for the Careers Fair Attendance at the Careers Fair Tutor session reflecting on conversations and learning at the Careers Fair MFL lesson – links between MFL and careers
Spring 2	National Careers Week activity (subject teachers) With tutors/subject departments: Review of skills; CV writing
Summer 1	Tutor sessions: Post-16 options, Post-18 options, University finance, competition for jobs, the changing jobs landscape
Summer 2	One-to-one meetings with a qualified careers advisor begin for the year group Tutor sessions – preparation for practice interviews including the STAR technique Practice interviews Talk about Communication Plus workshop

Year 11

Half-term	Activities
Autumn 1	Tutor sessions: Post-16 options One lesson with computers to research Post-16 options via Unifrog One-to-one meetings with a qualified careers advisor
Autumn 2	Nov – Tutor sessions: CVs and applying One-to-one meetings with a qualified careers advisor Dec – Tutor “check-in” regarding Post-16 applications made
Spring 1	Tutor session in preparation for the Careers Fair Attendance at the Careers Fair Tutor session reflecting on conversations and learning at the Careers Fair Tutor discussions: completion of next steps spreadsheet and recording student aspirations One-to-one meetings with a qualified careers advisor Core PE – delivery of PE session to peers (skills development)
Spring 2	National Careers Week activity (subject teachers) One-to-one meetings with a qualified careers advisor
Summer 1	One-to-one meetings with a qualified careers advisor Tutor session – the application process for jobs
Summer 2	Exams & Study Leave – support given on results day

 

Year 12

Half-term	Activities
Autumn 1	Tutor sessions – apprenticeships Talk about the Future workshop
Autumn 2	Apprenticeship Options assembly (external guest) Work Experience assembly Tutor sessions: strengths/competencies
Spring 1	Attendance at the Careers Fair Provider Access Legislation–compliant extended assembly Assembly focusing on Higher and Degree Apprenticeships (external guest) Tutor sessions: Apprenticeships Tutor sessions: work experience planning
Spring 2	National Careers Week activity (subject teachers) Extended assembly – University of Bedfordshire: making the most of university open day events Tutor sessions – Thinking about your next steps after 6th form Tutor sessions – What is the gig economy
Summer 1	Choosing the right course and university – University of Bedfordshire – assembly Tutor sessions: Truths and Myths about University Tutor sessions: Managing your online presence Tutor sessions: Thinking about your next steps after 6th form Tutor sessions: Preparation for work experience UCAS Information Evening 5–6pm
Summer 2	Tutor sessions: Apprenticeships Finder Tool; apprenticeship applications Tutor sessions: Personal statements and university visits Talk from undergraduate interns about life at university Trip to the UCAS Fair at University of Bedfordshire Workshop – Higher and Degree apprenticeship applications University of Hertfordshire taster day Extended assembly – University of Bedfordshire – how to make a strong application Preparation for work experience Work Experience

Year 13

Half-term	Activities
Autumn 1	Work Experience reflection UCAS update assembly Practice interview opportunity (for apprenticeship applicants) Tutor sessions: Not Going to University – your alternatives Tutor session: Personal statements
Autumn 2	Reflection and Destinations Plans assembly Tutor sessions: AI and job/university applications Tutor sessions: Apprenticeships Q&A; applications
Spring 1	Attendance at the Careers Fair Tutor sessions: Cover letter for job applications; CVs Tutor sessions: Your skills Tutor sessions: From perfect CV to acing the interview
Spring 2	National Careers Week activity (subject teachers)
Summer 1	Exams & Study Leave
Summer 2	Exams & Study Leave – support given on results day

A copy of the school's Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Policy including the Provider Access Policy can be viewed below. It is also available from the About Our School > Policies section of the school website.