Pupils at Saxon Mount School are entitled to CEIAG (Careers Education Information and Guidance) which meets professional standards of practice which is person centred, impartial and confidential. CEIAG is embedded into pupils’ experience of the whole curriculum.
‘Leaders manage pupils’ transition into the school and prepare them to move onto further education at the end of Year 11 extremely well. Staff work closely with colleagues from sixth-form colleges to share important information about pupils. This increases the likelihood of these transitions being successful’. (OFSTED 2017)
The government’s Careers Strategy, launched in December 2017, and statutory guidance published in January 2018, set out the requirements for secondary schools and colleges in relation to careers education and provision in school. Schools are required to use The Gatsby Benchmarks to guide their careers activity provision. The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 aspects which together provide high quality careers provision in schools.
These are:
The careers programme is written down and reviewed annually. Pupils take part in timetabled lessons, workshops, trips and visits.
Pupils are explicitly taught what Labour Market information (LMI) is and how they can find it. They also learn how it useful in their decision making. They regularly look at and use, up to date, local and National LMI in a range of subjects.
Pupils careers education takes into account each individual’s additional needs as well as their areas of interest. In Y10 and 11 pupils have individual careers action plans and these are included in the EHCP.
All learning in school makes reference to pupils’ futures. Pupils are made aware of why they are learning and how what they are learning will benefit them in their future life and employment.
Pupils have the opportunity to meet, work with and visit employers and employees at least once each year from Year 7 upwards. These opportunities may take place in school or on visits to workplaces. We have contact with some young people who used to attend the school now in employment who speak to the pupils about their journey to employment and their workplaces.
Pupils visit workplaces at least once a year from Year 7 upwards. At Key Stage 3, the visits widen pupils understanding of the workplaces in the local area. In Year 10 and 11 the visits are tailored more to pupils areas of interest. Pupils in Year 11 have access to an individualised Work Experience Programme.
Pupils from Y8 upwards have a range of experiences with local FE and HE providers. These may be in school, off site, virtual or in person.
All pupils receive at least 1 x 45 minute session with a Level 6 qualified Careers Adviser before they leave Year 11. We aim to provide every pupil with a small group or individual 30 minute session during Y9 and Y10. In addition, pupils in all years may request access to the Careers Adviser at any time.
Headteacher Amanda Jagot
