Careers

Phillip.Maisey@wyeschool.org.uk

01233 811 110

Careers education, information, advice, and guidance (CEIAG) programmes make a major contribution in preparing our students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences that life demands.

We aim to meet the requirements of the statutory guidance for schools on careers guidance and access for education and training providers, and to continuously work towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks.

A planned progressive programme of activities across all years in Wye School supports students in choosing 14-18 pathways that suit their interests and abilities and help them to follow a career path and sustain employability throughout their working lives.  

Wye School's Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) policy has the following aims:

• to contribute to strategies for raising achievement, especially by increasing motivation; 
• to support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity;
• to encourage participation in continued learning including higher education and further education;
• to develop enterprise and employment skills;
• to reduce drop out from and course switching in education and training;
• to contribute to the economic prosperity of individuals and communities;
• to meet the needs of all our students;
• to focus students on their future aspirations;
• to involve parents and carers;
• to involve external providers in exposing our students to the many opportunities available for them locally and nationally.

Outline of CEIAG Provision

Our CEIAG provision includes:

• Fortnightly Tutor Time Careers in Years 7-11, including: SkillsBuilder activities; Unifrog activities; MyPath Job of the Week; engagement with specific careers, industries, and professions; local labour market information using Start in Kent.
• Careers in Curriculum during subject lessons in Years 7-13, including: relevant careers linked to topics/content covered; engagement with FE/HE; STEM activities.
• Meaningful encounters with employers and employees in Years 8-13: visiting speakers and workshops.
• Meaningful encounters with further and higher education, and other providers, in Year 8-13 including: alumni visits; visits to and from providers (please read our Provider Access Policy for further details).
• Meaningful experiences of the workplace and work-based learning, including opportunities for work experience in Years 10 and 12; workshops and challenges led by employers and visiting speakers.
• Personal Guidance (see below).
• Individual, tailored, careers provision for all students, where needed, including those with SEND, EHCPs, Pupil Premium students and those at risk of being NEET (not in education, employment, or training).

Our Careers Roadmap provides an outline of our CEIAG provision from Year 7 to 13.

Independent Careers Advice and Guidance

Our Independent Careers Advice and Guidance is provided by Mr Chris Targett, Senior Careers Adviser, CXK, and Carol-Anne Rosbrook, Associate Careers Adviser, CXK. Chris Targett has a Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and was also awarded the UK Careers Adviser of the Year 2021. Carol-Anne Rosbrook has a Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Career Management & Qualification in Career Guidance.

All students in Year 10 and Year 12 receive personal careers advice and guidance. Students in Year 11 and 13 may receive additional guidance if this is needed. Please contact our Careers Leader if you would like to self-refer for guidance.

Measurement of CEIAG Impact

The impact of the school’s CEIAG provision can be measured through the quality of student destinations at both 16 and 18.

Destinations

Of our 2021-22 Year 11 students:

• 97% are now in education or training
• 36% continued their studies at Wye School to study three A-Levels.
• 57% continued their studies at alternative further education providers
• 4% undertook an apprenticeship or traineeship

Of our 2021-22 Year 13 students, 54% of students went immediately into Higher Education. This rises to 74% when taking into consideration those who chose to defer their entry, with a place accepted.

The Careers Leader keeps up to date individualised records of each students’ engagement using Compass+ and Unifrog platforms.

Stakeholders and Partners

All students from Years 7 to 13 are expected to engage with their own career development and participate in activities to enhance their skills and careers education. Students are all given access to Unifrog from Year 7, to identify opportunities that link to their future.

We recognise the importance that parents and carers have in their child’s career development. We encourage parents and carers to engage with the school website, linked websites, and our Next Steps Newsletter, as well as attend Parents’ Evenings and other relevant careers events.

Students are given the opportunity to feedback on and provide input to their CEIAG provision via termly Student Council meetings. Additionally, via the United Learning Annual Survey, parents/carers and students are able to provide feedback on the CEIAG provision. Collectively, this feedback supports the design of our CEIAG provision.

We are pleased to be expanding our network of business people, providers, alumni to offer a range of exciting opportunities for students. We are currently working with the following:

• Canterbury Christchurch University
• Queen’s College, Cambridge
• Hadlow College
• Apprenticeships Support and Knowledge (ASK)
• CXK
• BEMIX
• St. James’ Place
• Adams and Bowles
• British Army, Canterbury
• Ashford Borough Council
• CHG Meridien
• Department for Work and Pensions
• NHS
• Hallet and Co. Solicitors, Ashford
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Biz Radio
• Jobs In Kent
• Pfizer
• Batt
• EHI
• HSBC
• Amnesty International
• DK Books

Review of our CEIAG Provision

Our CEIAG provision is reviewed at least annually, but new opportunities are presented to our students regularly and we will adapt our programme of activities within the year, as required, to meet the needs of our students.

Next review: September 2024