Careers

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The Kassia Academy Career Programme 22/23

Our careers lead is Danielle Proctor: danielle.proctor@tkas.org.uk

In January 2018 The Gatsby Charitable Foundation established eight world class benchmarks. At The Kassia Academy we adhere to them in order to develop and improve our careers provision and provide the best life chances for our learners.

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each student
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experience of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal Guidance

Aims

Our aim is to ensure every child receives advice and guidance so that they are inspired and motivated to achieve the best that they can. We will deliver a high quality careers programme, linking careers into our curriculum and also through one to one sessions with our in-house careers lead.

We aim to inspire young people through real life experiences in the world of work and also encounters with local employers. As part of our Careers Programme, learners have the opportunity to attend open events and organised careers fairs to enable them to make an informed choice post 16.

We Will

Create strong links with external providers including colleges, training providers and employers.
Aim to secure appropriate work placements for learners to experience the world of work.
Develop employability skills and ensure that all Year 11 learners leave Kassia with an up to date CV and a careers action plan directing them to a positive post 16 destination.
Provide learners with the opportunity to access mock interviews, create covering letters and develop a personal statement.
Liaise with local colleges and arrange transitions events for learners in preparation for the end of year 11.
Promote and attend careers events and promote STEM within our curriculum.
Widen horizons and raise aspirations.
Deliver an impartial, embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by learners, parents, teachers, governors and employers across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
Undertake tracking of all year 11 learners and follow up each case, checking they have offers and providing destination data back to the Local Authority

Year 7-10

Start to introduce careers resources
Complete a skills assessment online identifying suitable careers
Attend employer site visits
Participate in onsite and offsite employer lead skills sessions
Create pathways action plans and start to think about plans for the future
Experience taster days and transitions events at local colleges
Learn about the different Post-16 pathways
At least 2 encounters with a technical education or apprenticeships provider.
Visits and trips linking to different careers.
1-1 discussions with our schools career lead.
Talks around post 16 options and careers advice from The Job Centre.
Career form time activities and information.
Follow a highly structured careers programme. (The Skills builder).
Work shadowing within school. (Office work, Catering, Maintenance)

Year 11

Explore all Post-16 options
Apply to Post-16 options and back up plans, as necessary
Attend relevant events in and out of school where they can speak to employers, colleges and training providers
Continue to develop skills required for a successful transition
Access one to one support with a careers adviser
Targeted support for identified vulnerable children in year 11 at risk of becoming NEET (Not in education employment or training) to discuss their post 16 options
At least 2 encounters with a technical education or apprenticeships provider.
1-1 support and guidance from our schools career lead.
1-1 meeting with our designated local authority careers advisor.
Work experience embedded into our curriculum such as construction and hair and beauty.
Job fairs.
Encounters with local employees.
Mock interviews.
CV creating and career guidance workshop ran by The Job Centre.
Credited ASDAN Careers programme.
Career form time activities and information.

All young people in England are required to continue in education or training until at least their 18th birthday. This includes, full time study in a school, college or training provider, an apprenticeship, traineeship or supported internship and full time work or volunteering (20 hours or more) combined with part time accredited study.

If you would like access to your records about your own careers and enterprise activities and decisions on your future path's ways, this can be printed on request. Please email danielle.proctor@tkas.org.uk

Alumni Success Story

Hannah a former learner at The Kassia Academy (formerly known as New Horizons AP) has just finished her first year at Sheffield University studying medicine.

Hannah has co written a book called 'My Intense Emotions Handbook' talking about her own personal mental health experiences, with a view to help other young people like her.

For more information regarding Hannah, please click here

Work Experience 2023

One of our Year 10 students from Sycamore, Kai, has started work experience at a local barber's called No1 Barbers.

Kai - "I love going to the Barbers every Wednesday. The staff are really nice and I have learned some new skills. My dad is even going to let me have a go at cutting his hair. When I leave school i am thinking of opening my own barbers".

What are my options post 16? Information for Learners, Parents & Carers

A levels

Description: Carry on studying subjects you took for GCSE to a higher level, or pick new ones you may not have done before like economics, law or psychology. You could take 3 very different subjects you are interested in to keep your career options open or choose more closely related subjects if you need them for a specific career.

Duration: 2 years

Assessment: Mostly exams at the end of the course

Level of study: 3

Entry requirements: Typically 5 GCSEs Grade 9-4 (usually including English and maths)

Work experience: Your school or college may offer short periods of work experience, usually during year 12

Leads to: University or college courses, higher and degree apprenticeships, work

T Levels

Description: Designed in partnership with employers to give you the skills and knowledge to get on in the workplace. You'll combine classroom learning with real work placements. 1 T Level is the equivalent of 3 A levels.

Duration: 2 years

Assessment: Exams, projects and practical assignments

Level of study: 3

Entry requirements: Course dependent

Work experience: At least 45 days on industry placement

Leads to: Work, higher and degree apprenticeships, college and university courses

Vocational and technical qualifications

Description: These courses teach you the practical skills and knowledge for a particular area of employment. They can prepare you for a broad employment sector, like engineering or travel and tourism, or for a specific job like a chef or a hairdresser. Qualifications which teach you how to do tasks specifically related to the industry and role you want to be involved in.

Duration: 1 or more years

Assessment: Can include coursework, skills tests and exams

Level of study: 1+

Entry requirements: Course dependent

Work experience: You'll learn in real situations in college, for example in a college restaurant or a salon that is open to the public. You may also have the chance to go out on a work placement with an employer.

Leads to: Apprenticeship, work, college or university

Traineeships

Description: A course that includes a work placement that will get you ready for an apprenticeship or a job. You’ll get work experience and some help to apply for your next steps. You can also improve your maths and English skills. You’ll get work experience and some help to apply for whatever you do next.

Location: You’ll spend a minimum of 70 hours in a work placement with the rest of your time in college or a training centre

Duration: 6 weeks to 1 year

Entry requirements: You need to be aged between 16 to 24 or up to 25 with an Education Health and Care Plan with no higher than a level 3 qualification

Qualifications: English, maths, digital and work-related qualifications

Leads to: Apprenticeship, further education, work

Apprenticeships

Description: Intermediate, advanced higher and degree apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job skills training with off-the-job learning. You'll get training that is relevant to your job and be paid a salary. Start at a level to suit you, with support if you have special needs or a disability.

Location: You’ll spend 80% of your time in the workplace and 20% off-the-job with some study in a college, training centre or Institute of Technology (IoT)

Duration: A minimum of 1 year

Entry requirements: Will be dependent on the industry, job role and apprenticeship level

Qualifications: apprenticeship certificate, diploma, degree and masters depending on level

Leads to: Work, next level of apprenticeship, further education, higher education

Prospective Employers

Calling All Employers!

Would you like to be part in creating a future for our students?

As a school we are always looking to build links with employers. We believe in providing our learners with the very best education including careers guidance, experiences and encounters.

Should you wish to get involved please email our Careers Lead: Danielle.proctor@tkas.org.uk

Careers Teacher Information

As a school all our staff are responsible for creating a high standard of careers education to all our learners across the school.

To ensure this we provide termly staff surveys, to gather feedback on how we can improve our careers education, guidance and knowledge.

We also offer careers CPD sessions on a regular basis.

Resources for teachers: Careers and Enterprise Skills Builder

The Gatsby Bench Marks

We believe that all of our learners are entitled to the very best education, including careers guidance, through a developed, personalised curriculum, delivered by highly experienced and qualified staff. In January 2018 The Gatsby Charitable Foundation established eight world class benchmarks. At The Kassia Academy we adhere to them in order to develop and improve our careers provision and provide the best life chances for our learners.

For more information: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance

LMI for All

LMI for All is an online data portal funded by the Department for Education. It brings together existing national sources of high quality labour market information (LMI) that can inform people’s choices about their careers.

For more information, please click here

Stakeholder Voice

Warrington Borough Council Youth Service

https://www.warrington.gov.uk/youth-service

The young ladies in the group today were engaged, asked lots of questions and shared personal experiences.

We also discussed how to say 'No'

Warrington Job Centre

https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/warrington-jobcentre

The girls in Key Stage 4 at Longbarn and all of the students at Orford Jubilee were really great!

Engaged, chatty and enthusiastic about their futures.

Greencore

https://www.greencore.com/

Working with the Kassia Academy has been inspiring and motivational from both a professional and personal point of view.

The ethos of the school and the dedication, commitment and passion shown by the staff is an example to everyone in how to behave when helping others who need guiding in a direction. This direction is not defined by the staff at Kassia, but is creating individually, per pupil, based on their individual traits, personalities and needs.

The children I have met when visiting have always been welcoming, if not a little suspicious, but interested in who we are and what we do.

We have engaged with our colleagues at Greencore who have expressed an interest in getting involved with the school through a mentoring program. We hope to move this forward before the end of term and set a plan for the next school year of interaction and engagement with pupils coming to site to gain an experience of the workplace.”