Careers

At St Matthew Academy we are committed to ensuring that all our pupils from Years 7 to 11 have high quality impartial advice on career opportunities in line with the now statutory Gatsby Benchmarks. We try to ensure that pupils receive information about how they progress onto appropriate courses in further education and eventually employment. It is very important to us to know that all leavers have a plan for their next step.

The Gatsby Benchmarks 

We have used these 8 benchmarks to review and focus our own provision for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance:

(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) Experiences of workplaces.

(7) Encounters with further and higher education.

(8) Personal guidance.

We have put in place support for our pupils in making well-informed decisions by providing access to differentiated, impartial and independent information and guidance about the range of options (including academic, vocational, apprenticeships) that are most likely to help them to achieve their ambitions. We believe that giving pupils careers education and guidance is vital to improving their motivation to learn because it gives pupils context for what they are doing each day in school.

All pupils are entitled to Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) that: 

  • Provides good quality independent careers advice to pupils which inspires them and motivates them to fulfil their potential

  • Provides personal advice and guidance which is in the best interests of, and meets the needs of, all pupils

  • Is based on the Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Careers Guidance

  • Contributes to the raising of pupil achievement by encouraging pupils to develop high aspirations and consider a broad and ambitious range of careers

  • Provides opportunities to work in partnership with employers, training providers, local colleges and others

  • Provides opportunities to inspire pupils through real-life contact with the world of work

  • Develops enterprise and employability skills including skills for self-employment

  • Supports inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity

  • Encourages pupils to see career development as a life-long process

  • Develops pupils’ skills and knowledge of careers including career management skills and knowledge of the local labour market

  • Ensures pupils are aware of the full range of academic and technical routes available at each transition point so that pupils have the necessary knowledge to make successful transitions

  • Provides opportunities for meaningful encounters with employees, employers, further and higher education and experience of workplaces

  • Supports social mobility by improving opportunities for all pupils, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities

  • Is embedded into subjects across the curriculum (including Personal Development)

Careers Programme: Year 7 

  • All pupils are involved in Careers related lessons and activities as part of the PSHE programme
  • Access to Fast Tomato Online Careers application
  • All pupils take part in the National Careers Week, which this year is Monday 7 - Friday 11  March 2022

Careers Programme: Year 8​​​ 

  • Careers activities in PSHE lessons aim to help pupils to make a decision on their curriculum options that are appropriate to their interests and talents.
  • Personal Development activities on the construction industry delivered by Construction Youth Trust
  • All pupils are involved in Careers related lessons and activities as part of the PSHE programme
  • All pupils have access to Fast Tomato Online Careers application
  • All pupils take part in the National Careers Week, which this year is Monday 7 -Friday 11 March 2022

Care​​​​​​ers Programme: Year  9 

  • All pupils are involved with either the KPMG mentoring or employability programmes
  • All pupils have opportunities to attend careers events and visits through curriculum departments
  • Selected pupils attend Universities including Sussex University, Oxford University and King’s College London
  • Selected pupils attend the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
  • Selected pupils attend Careers talks delivered by guest speakers
  • All pupils are involved in Careers related lessons and activities as part of the PSHE programme
  • All pupils have access to Fast Tomato Online Careers application
  • All pupils take part in the National Careers Week, which this year is Monday 7 - Friday 11 March 2022

Careers Programme: Year 10 

  • All pupils are involved with either the KPMG mentoring or employability programmes
  • Successful applicants attend the Brilliant Club
  • Selected pupils attend university visits including Oxford university
  • Selected pupils attended the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
  • Selected pupils attend Careers talks delivered by guest speakers
  • Selected pupils attend careers visits through curriculum departments eg Business Studies visit to Amazon at Tilbury
  • In February, all pupils attend one week’s Work Experience with employers
  • All pupils are involved in Careers related lessons and activities as part of the PSHE programme, including developing career management skills such as CV writing.
  • All pupils have access to Fast Tomato Online Careers application
  • All pupils have the opportunity to take part in a Mock interview
  • All pupils have the opportunity to experience a taster day in a sixth form or college setting and be introduced to different post-16 pathways.
  • All pupils take part in the National Careers Week, which this year will be Monday 7 - Friday 11 March 2022.

Careers Programme: Year 11 

  • All pupils will learn about Post-16 pathways to make informed choices about their future
  • All have learnt how to write a personal statement for post-16 applications
  • All pupils hear from guest speakers in assembly about sixth form, college and apprenticeships
  • All pupils attend group sessions discussing the different post-16 pathways and key considerations when choosing post-16 options
  • All of these activities are supported with opportunities to speak with the SMA Careers Lead and computer access for online careers centred resources is also available
  • Selected pupils will have had access to university visits including Oxford University and Cambridge University
  • All pupils have access to Fast Tomato Online Careers application.

For information on our Careers programme including Employers and post-16 providers interested in meeting with our pupils, please email:

 

Mr Luke Simmons LSI@stmatthewacademy.co.uk 

Please download the document below for the list of useful Careers websites for our pupils.