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Redborne Upper School

Redborne Upper School

& Community College

Careers

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.

Year Group

Summary of the Planned Programme

By the end of the KS all students will have:

9

 

  • Overview of post 16 options for pupils and parents/carers, to include A levels, T levels, applied general qualifications (eg BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and traineeships.
  • Via focused tutor times to consider skills, qualities and attitudes required by employers using resources from Skills Builder
  • Tutor group opportunities to develop self-knowledge and understand how they might relate to different occupations.
  • KS4 options event.
  • Careers Fair at which providers of technical education/apprenticeships, FE colleges and training providers will be invited as well as HE providers
  • Meetings with careers professional.
  • Curriculum learning linked to careers.
  • Understanding the Redborne Award and how the school’s values link to careers
  • National Careers Week activity

 

 

 

  • A better understanding of the full range of 14-19 opportunities for progression.
  • Increased awareness of their strengths and areas for development, as well as support to evaluate how these might inform future choices in learning and work.
  • An understanding of some of the qualities, attitudes and skills needed for employability.
  • Been introduced to Unifrog, our chosen Careers platform
  • Used online careers resources to research information about opportunities and apply their findings to help to make informed choices for KS4 options.
  • Received appropriate advice and guidance on KS4 options.

10

  • Timetabled work skills lessons.
  • Careers Fair at which providers of technical education/apprenticeships, FE colleges and training providers will be invited as well as HE providers
  • Meetings with careers professional
  • Practice Interviews
  • Career Insight Talks
  • Curriculum learning linked to careers.
  • Further timetabled use of Unifrog, our chosen careers platform
  • Digital literacy delivered in work skills lessons including CV writing
  • The opportunity to participate in the Young Enterprise Company Programme
  • Large group work experience preparation session for those students undertaking the one week work experience.
  • One week work experience for targeted group
  • Opportunities to take part in virtual work experiences and other career related activities, advertised by the careers department either by direct email or the careers bulletin.

 

  • An improved understanding of skills, qualities and attitudes needed for employability.
  • Enhanced their self-knowledge, career management and employability skills.
  • Used online resources and other sources to investigate and explore future choices and progression routes.
  • Been given direct access to employers, colleges,universities and training providers.
  • Been given guidance to help identify a range of post-16 options and support networks that they can use to plan and negotiate their career pathways
  • For the targeted group having a one week work experience, increased awareness of health and safety in the workplace
  • For the targeted group having a one week work experience: experienced a workplace and supported to reflect on it

11

  • Timetabled work skills lessons
  • Careers Fair at which providers of technical education/apprenticeships, FE colleges and training providers will be invited as well as HE providers
  • Meetings with careers professional
  • Career Insight Talks
  • Access and support to apply to the National Citizens Service summer programme
  • Curriculum learning linked to careers.
  • Labour Market Information, Preparing for Interviews and Assessment Centres via work skills lessons
  • Core PE programme which includes The Employable Me strand.
  • Opportunities to take part in virtual work experiences and other career related activities, advertised by the careers department either by direct email or the careers bulletin.
  • A good understanding of skills, qualities and attitudes needed for employability.
  • Enhanced their self-knowledge, career management and employability skills.
  • Used online resources and other sources to investigate and explore future choices and progression routes.
  • Been given direct access to employers, colleges, training providers and Universities.
  • Been given guidance to help identify a range of post-16 options and support networks that they can use to plan and negotiate their career pathways.
  • Been provided with the resources to complete the post-16 application procedures, including CVs, personal statements and preparation for interview.
Access to support with Post-16 applications

12

  • Post-18 assembly – apprenticeships.
  • Post-18 assembly – UCAS – HE application process.
  • Tutor sessions: future education, training and employment options.
  • Meetings with careers professional.
  • Career Insight Talks.
  • Opportunity to access an off-site HE & apprenticeship fair.
  • Curriculum learning linked to careers.
  • Workshops – HE and higher apprenticeship applications
  • Support to find, prepare and reflect on the work experience activity
  • Work experience week
  • The opportunity to participate in the Young Enterprise Company Programme
  • Opportunities to take part in virtual work experiences and other career related activities, advertised by the careers department either by direct email, Google Classroom notices or the careers bulletin.
  • Enhanced their self-knowledge, career management and employability skills.
  • Used online resources and other sources to investigate and explore future choices and progression routes.
  • Received guidance concerning the UCAS application procedure.
  • Received guidance to help identify a range of post-18 options.
  • Been provided with the resources to develop their CVs, personal statements and interview preparation.
  • Been given direct access to employers and HE providers including universities.
  • Gained work experience

13

 

  • Workshops – HE and higher apprenticeship applications
  • Meetings with careers professional
  • Career Insight Talks
  • Opportunity to access an off-site HE & apprenticeship fair.
  • Curriculum learning linked to careers
  • Tutor sessions - future education, training and employment options
  • Opportunities to take part in virtual work experiences and other career related activities, advertised by the careers department either by direct email, Google Classroom notices or the careers bulletin.
  • Enhanced their self-knowledge, career management and employability skills.
  • Used online resources and other sources to investigate and explore future choices and progression routes.
  • Received guidance to support accessing a range of post-18 options.
  • Been provided with the resources to develop their CVs, personal statements and interview preparation.
  • Been given direct access to employers and HE providers including universities.

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.

 

Contact Us

Flitwick Road, Ampthill,
Bedfordshire,
MK45 2NU

01525 404462