By beginning careers education at the very start of their time at Sandhill View, we believe that students’ aspirations and motivation are increased and they are more equipped to make better informed decisions at key transition stages.
Click here to read our Careers Strategy 2021-2024
Rationale
Sandhill View Academy has a critical role to play in preparing our young people for the next stage of their education or training and beyond.
A young person’s career is their pathway through learning and work and we recognise that effective careers guidance contributes to raising aspirations, improving motivation and overcoming barriers to success and we are committed to achieving the inspiring IAG award
We have high expectations for all of our students, including for our most vulnerable and those with special educational needs and disabilities, so that every student is challenged appropriately and acquires the knowledge, skills and attitudes for lifelong learning which employers value. This will help every young person to realise their potential and enhance their employability.
Inspiring IAG Quality Award Code of Practice
Sandhill View Academy has achieved the Inspiring IAG Stage 3 Award.
The award recognises that we:
- Ensure young people get the support they need to make well informed, realistic decisions about their future through careers education, information, advice and guidance.
- Have appropriate, up to date, accurate and impartial information and resources that all young people can access regardless of race, gender, religion, ability, disability, social background or sexual orientation.
- Ensure the organisational policies relating to careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) are up to date and regularly reviewed and reflect this code of practice.
- Empower young people by informing them of how they can access CEIAG to help them plan their future and make well informed, realistic decisions.
- Provide young people from year 8 onwards access to impartial professionally qualified careers guidance[1] and ensure formal regular assessment arrangements are carried out of the guidance practitioner, by appropriately qualified[2] senior staff to determine ongoing competency.
- Offer all young people access to impartial and independent[3] careers guidance[4], at a time and place that suits their needs.
- Ensure that all staff working with young people are offered and access ongoing training about qualifications/progression pathways and other relevant subjects and that there is a formal system in place to ensure the competency of all staff in delivering CEIAG.
- Work in partnership, where appropriate, with opportunity providers including employers, FE and training providers, and youth support services.
- Working with parents/carers to offer them information, advice and guidance to help them, help their son/daughter.
- Involve young people in the design, delivery and evaluation of CEIAG programmes.
- Promote equality of opportunity, celebrating diversity, challenging stereotypes and raising aspirations
The Gatsby Benchmarks
In line with the most recent careers guidance strategy (December 2017), our careers plan supports the achievement of the eight Gatsby benchmarks:
Benchmark 1: A stable careers programme Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.
Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information Every student and their parents should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information
Benchmark 3: Addressing the needs of each student Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of careers paths.
Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces Every student should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing, and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
Benchmark 8: Personal guidance Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.
Principles
CEIAG at Sandhill View has four essential and interlinked elements:
- Careers education-planned programmes in the curriculum (Extended Tutor time (ETT) and planned cross-curricular opportunities) giving students the knowledge and skills to help them make informed decisions, plan and manage their own careers.
- Careers information- including options, employability skills, labour market information (LMI) and progression routes.
- Careers advice and guidance- Level 6 qualified specialist advisor helping students to identify future goals and plan the steps to achieve these career goals.
- Work related learning – experiences in/outside the curriculum to help students learn about economic well-being, careers and enterprise
Detailed Curriculum Information
Key Stage 3 Careers Summary
Key Stage 4 Careers Summary
Summary of CEIAG at Sandhill View Academy
Summary of CEIAG at Sandhill View Academy
There has never been a time when careers guidance has been as important for young people as it is today. At Sandhill View Academy we have a critical role to play in preparing our students for the next stage of their education or training and beyond. Our students will be embarking upon a career pathway which is more challenging and complex than that faced by previous generations. To help them to prepare for this, our careers programme provides them with the careers education, information, advice and guidance to enable them to make an informed decision about their future. Careers education As part of our SMSC curriculum all students from Y7-Y11 take part in a careers education programme which focuses on the four key areas: ‘Careers Exploration’; ‘Self-Awareness’; Decision Making’ and ‘Employability Skills and Careers Management. This weekly programme is delivered by tutors in ETT (Extended Tutor time) This extensive programme is complemented by visits from representatives from employers and post-16 trainers and universities as well as our 3 Careers Focus days which take place every year. Impartial Advice and Guidance The Academy’s professionally trained careers guidance practitioner provides personal careers guidance to our students. We also use Connexions, to ensure our students receive the impartial advice that they need. Links with Post-16 Education Providers and Trainers All Y10 and Y11 students take part in a series of taster sessions with local sixth forms and colleges to see for themselves the wide range of opportunities available in further education. Students also have the opportunity to meet with a range of other post-16 education -providers and trainers. Our strong links with universities allow students to find out for themselves the opportunities that higher education can offer them. Links with Employers Our annual careers fair enables all students and their parents and carers to meet with employers and training providers as well as colleges and universities to find out about the many careers opportunities available. Our links with the North-east Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sunderland’s Work Discovery programme and sector days give our students an insight into the world of work and the career options which are open to them. Work-Related Learning Opportunities Students in Y10 take part in work experience every Wednesday afternoon from October to May. This is an opportunity for students to spend some time with an employer or other organisation, allowing them to explore possible career pathways. All students in Y9 have the opportunity to take part in our annual “Take Your Child To Work Day in May. Students are able to accompany and work shadow a parent/carer throughout a normal working day allowing them to experience as far as possible the hours, working conditions and regulations they may encounter when they go to work themselves.
