Careers Lead – Mrs Siobhain Walter
What is the role of a careers lead?
Enterprise Advisors – Mike Nichols (PACTEC) and Ben Whiteley (Cavendish Nuclear)
What is the role of an enterprise advisor? https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/media/0oadstmp/enterprise-adviser-role-description-2023.pdf
Careers is everybody’s responsibility. See below a brief outline of what this involves at West Lakes Academy.
| ALG responsibilities ● Ensure the annual Careers Plan is completed and signed off by the end of August. ● Ensure that the agreed careers objectives are understood and implemented across the |
| Careers Lead ● Ensure the careers programme is adequately resourced to deliver the agreed careers plan. ● Work closely with the Careers and Enterprise Adviser to maintain a strong link with local ● Complete a minimum of 1 days’ work experience each year in a local business to understand how the school could best serve its business community. ● Audit current teaching practices in terms of careers delivery. ● Report progress to the ALG team. ● Ensure you engage with all your stakeholders including, Local Authority, Local Colleges and |
| Head of Sixth Form responsibilities ● Ensure all Y12 students have prepared draft CVs and/or personal statements. ● Support the careers leader to deliver appropriate activities ● Support the students with their individual career action plans, paying particular attention to those in the NEET risk group. ● Work with the senior lead for careers education to ensure students make a smooth transition to year 12 and are supported onto the right pathway. ● Support in the organisation of work experience ● Organise the individual Inspira interviews. |
| Heads of Year responsibilities ● Take responsibility for careers education, information advice and guidance for their respective year groups, ensuring all students participate in year group CEIAG activities. ● Disseminate all CEIAG information to form tutors and ensuring all year students receive any advice needed. ● Support the Lead in Careers with delivery of activities and aspects of the program to ensure its effectiveness to all students during tutor and assembly times. ● Organise regular employer engagement assemblies and report these through social media. |
| Middle Leaders, Teachers, form tutors and teaching support staff responsibilities ● Ensure you are familiar with the school careers plan and its objectives. ● Ensure that career readiness and careers education are embedded in your lesson plans. ● Review your lesson plans in relation to linking to current jobs and career pathways. |
| Administrative and support staff responsibilities ● Support the careers leader in delivering the careers plan and achieving its objectives. ● Contribute towards the development of an atmosphere (within the school) of learning, confidence and ambition. ● Explore and adopt measures which enable you to deliver your services efficiently. ● Support communications and planning of work experience opportunities |
Gatsby Benchmarks
What are Gatsby Benchmarks?
https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/careers-leaders/gatsby-benchmarks/
Academy Progress towards the Gatsby Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Percentage of schools nationally meeting this benchmark | July 2021 | July 2022 | July 2023 |
| 1 | 66% | 100% | 100% | 82% |
| 2 | 81% | 100% | 100% | 80% |
| 3 | 54% | 90% | 72% | 63% |
| 4 | 76% | 75% | 52% | 62% |
| 5 | 80% | 100% | 100% | 75% |
| 6 | 64% | 87% | 100% | 100% |
| 7 | 52% | 83% | 95% | 79% |
| 8 | 75% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Academy Careers Development Plan
Work Experience
Our students access work experience as a whole year group in Year 10 and 12. In addition to this students can receive special permission to attend additional work experience opportunities related to their interests as opportunities arise.
Work Experience dates 2024 –
Year 10 – 4th – 8th March 2024
Year 12 – 8th – 12th July 2024
We use Cumbria WEX to support with our health and safety audits.
https://cumbria.work-experience.co.uk/
Contact Siobhain Walter for further login details
Unifrog
At the academy we use Unifrog to track and resource our careers provision.
https://www.unifrog.org/sign-in
Contact Christine Buchanan with any account login issues
Want to access more information and resources?
My Learning My Future
My Learning, My Future is a suite of Benchmark 4 resources to support subject teaching staff, from 27 subjects at KS3, KS4 & Post 16, to engage students in curriculum learning by highlighting the relevance of their subjects to future careers, opportunities and pathways
https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/my-learning-my-future
| My Learning My Future | CEC Resource Directory My Learning, My Future is a suite of Benchmark 4 resources to support subject teaching staff, from 27 subjects at KS3, KS4 & Post 16, to engage students in curriculum learning by highlighting the relevance of their subjects to future careers, opportunities and pathways. resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk |
www.yeuk.org.uk | YEUK is the leading campaigning and membership organisation dedicated to tacking youth unemployment in the UK |
| https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ | Provide information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work |
| www.icould.com | Features films of real people talking about their careers and the route they took |
| www.careersbox.co.uk | Free online library of careers related films, news and information |
| www.ucas.co.uk | Information about university courses and applications |
| http://ncfe.org.uk | Information about careers and qualifications you need |
| www.successatschool.org | Lots of information about careers sectors, information and advice |
| www.plotr.co.uk | For 11-25 year olds with articles and expert advice, plus employer profiles |
| www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk | Over 7000 reviews by school leavers on apprenticeships and lots of advice and opportunities. |
| www.getingofar.gov.uk | Information about apprenticeships with video clips and opportunities |
| www.healthcareers.nhs.uk | Lots of information, advice and guidance on careers in the NHS |
| www.notgoingtouni.co.uk | Aims to help young people make informed decisions showing opportunities outside of traditional university |
| www.parentalguidance.org.uk | Careers information and advice for parents and carers |
| www.goconstruct.org | Information about careers in the construction industry |
| https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk | For young people aged 13-16. CV Builder, job profiles and lots more. |
| www.barclayslifeskills.com | To learn about life skills, interview skills, application and CV writing |
| www.princes–trust.org.uk | Information to help young people make informed decisions about careers |
| www.volunteering.org.uk | Information about volunteering in different sectors |
| www.bestcourse4me.com | Independent and free information that shows links between what you study, what you can earn and what jobs are available |
| www.applytouni.com | Information about applying to university |
| http://unistats.direct.gov.uk | The official website for comparing universities. |
| www.how2become.com/resources/ultimate–guide–tobuilding–a–cv | Information about how to write a winning CV |
| http://www.cumbrialep.co.uk | The Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership providing information about the current labour market. |
| https://www.inspira.org.uk | Information about the Labour market in Cumbria, what support is available |
| https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk | The largest student community in the world, discussing universities, health, lifestyle, relationships and has free university application help |
| https://www.gov.uk | Link to Job Centre Plus and National Careers Website |
