The Careers programme for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 serves to enable students to make informed decisions about their options and how these may impact on their future career opportunities. To achieve this, the following objectives are set out and the depth of study increases as students’ progress throughout the school:
- Understand themselves and the influences on them
- Investigate opportunities in learning and work
- Make and adjust plans to manage change and transition
Additionally, the programme for Years 10 and 11 will become more focused as we support students to explore and apply for appropriate post 16 options through:
- Raising students’ self-awareness
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses
- Increasing awareness of occupational opportunities
- Preparing for post 16 options and promoting the notion of lifelong learning
- Facilitating work experience
Year 7
The Year 7 Careers Programme focuses on the theme of “…Who Am I…?”
Students will be involved in a range of different activities designed to encourage a reflection on their qualities, skills, strengths, and interests and further develop a positive self-image — the foundation for positive careers planning. They will also cultivate an awareness of the importance of different influences in their lives and how this may influence their decision-making.
Careers education will feature in the Year 7 assembly rota and key messages will be reinforced by tutor led and PSHE activities to reinforce the skills and qualities used in every job and recognise the importance of these in helping each student to achieve their individual potential and/or definition of success. Students will also be supported to create links between aspirational figures and their own lives.
Year 8
Year 8 is a good time to start reviewing possible future plans and research different occupations to discover what qualities, skills and qualifications are needed for these.
Careers activities will focus on an exploration of individual ambitions, likes and dislikes evolve and how this may influence their future careers plans. They will also focus on understanding employability and the skills needed for the future work force through an introduction to occupational and labour market information.
Students will use their occupational knowledge to investigate a range of careers and develop an awareness of the opportunities available in their local area and those which may suit their educational and personal goals. This will include an appreciation of the changes that have taken place in the workplace over time and how they are predicted to change in the future.
Year 9
During Year 9 students will receive advice and guidance from the Careers Department to help them make informed decisions when choosing Key Stage 4 options and will spend time exploring the courses available to them in Key Stage 4 and beyond.
Students will once again engage in activities to review their skills, qualities, and preferences and how these impact on the career planning process. They will be introduced to careers digital programmes which they can use to access and research career and study opportunities.
For further information, please see our Key Stage 4 Courses Booklet 2024 .
Year 10
In Year 10 students will focus on the contribution that personal attributes and effective communication skills make to their future life and work roles.
There will be a renewed focus on effective decision making in the context of post 16 options, some of which will be led by local colleges and employers and careers activities will highlight the skills needed to gain access to each of the post-16 options: education, further training, or apprenticeships. They will also once again examine the future of work and changes within the labour market.
Year 10 students will participate in careers activities which may involve workshops on:
- Employability Skills, Self-Promotion, and Positive Image
- CVs and Letters of Application
- The Future of Work, Competition for Jobs
- Career Sectors and Labour Market Information
- Finance and Budgeting
Year 11
During Year 11 students will receive advice and guidance from the Careers Department to help them make informed decisions about their post-16 destination, whether this is sixth form, college or an apprenticeship.
All students will be offered an individual careers appointment to help them consider their options. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend these careers appointments.
We organise Year 11 assemblies focussed on decision making and post 16 options, some of which will be led by local colleges and employers. Students are also invited to lunch time industry and insight talks that we hold throughout the year.
In-Person Work Experience
We strongly promote our annual Year 11 Work Experience Programme and encourage students to use their own networks or proactive research skills to secure a placement in specified weeks towards the end of the summer term. In addition, a combination of one-to-one help and advice via lunchtime drop-in workshops, plus access to a comprehensive work experience database ensures around 200 successful opportunities each year.
Virtual Work Experience
Many companies developed some excellent Virtual Work Experience opportunities in recent years during the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic which have proved so effective that the format is most definitely here to stay. Professionals working with some of the UK’s largest companies and nationally recognised organisations have devised engaging and insightful online work experience opportunities. This has provided students with opportunities that ordinarily they may not have had access to. The Careers Department periodically collate these opportunities and share them with students, as appropriate.
Selection of Local Post 16 Providers
- Associated Sixth Form
- Harrogate College
- York College
- Askham Bryan
- Leeds Arts University
- Leeds City College
- Leeds College of Building
- University Technical College, Leeds
All students are welcome to visit the Careers Department during break time and lunchtime, when the careers staff will be on hand to offer guidance and answer any individual queries. Individual guidance appointments can also be arranged, and parents and carers are welcome to attend. Please contact us to arrange a suitable time at careersstaff@staidans.co.uk
