Throughout their time at SWRA, our students are encouraged to develop and build a deeper understanding of themselves in order that they are better equipped to make sound future choices. This is carried out through the CEIAG elements, in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks. We recognise how important it is for our students to receive effective and bespoke careers advice and guidance in order for them to make informed choices about their future. Students are supported with developing their skills, qualities and wider knowledge, and also to build upon their strengths. Lessons are designed to allow our students to look and move forwards.
All of our students access professional, one-to-one careers guidance. This enables them to discuss their skills and ideas in order to be able to research further and then produce a plan that will allow them to maximise their own potential and achieve carefully planned goals. Our advice and guidance supports students throughout their progression to further and higher education, traineeships and apprenticeships.
Careers education is embedded across the curriculum, with lessons regularly incorporating links to associated careers. Specific careers lessons are also provided for every year group, in which future options and aspirations are explored.
We also offer extracurricular opportunities which support career development, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and encourage students to carry out voluntary and charity work which can enhance their career prospects, such as the Swimarathon.
We work hard to ensure that our students are enterprising, self-confident and resilient, as well as having an all-round education in order for them to achieve their career goals.
All careers information, education, advice and guidance is provided in an impartial manner, showing no bias or favouritism towards particular institutions or education or work options. Information covers a wide range of education and training options, including university, apprenticeships, the military and technical education routes. All guidance is given to promote the best interests of the pupils who receive it. One-to-one advice is provided to all year 10 and Year 12 students by a professional careers adviser, Mrs Julie Reynolds, from Complete Careers.
We use the Gatsby Benchmarks to measure the quality of our careers provision and are proud to have been awarded the Career Mark, which recognises our commitment to work towards meeting the Quality in Careers Standard incorporating the Gatsby Benchmarks. A Gatsby Benchmarks review is carried out termly; student, staff, parent and employers surveys are carried out annually; and our CEIAG programme and evaluation processes are reviewed annually.
If you would like further information or you can support our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance, we would like to hear from you.
Contact: Mrs Dowding, sarai.dowding@swracademy.org
High quality career education and guidance is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work, including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and develop the employment skills they need to achieve career success.
At SWRA, our careers provision aims to:
Develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of the wide range of careers and career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships
Support students to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options
Reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training)
Teach lessons which demonstrate clear links between curriculum subjects and a wide variety of careers
Raise aspirations and actively challenge stereotypes
Develop employability skills and prepare students for the world of work
Expand – Aspire – Succeed
At Key Stage 3, our Careers programme is designed to expand students’ horizons, increasing their awareness of the wide range of future options available to them.
At Key Stage 4, the Careers programme encourages students to consider the futures towards which they aspire and how they can achieve those, by increasing awareness of their various post-16 options and providing workplace experience and one-to-one career guidance.
At Key Stage 5, our Careers programme focusses on providing the skills, experiences and one-to-one guidance which they need to succeed in their next steps, as they move into adulthood.
Sir William Robertson Academy wants you to have a successful future! In order to achieve this, you will take part in a wide variety of careers lessons, activities and experiences during your time at the school.
These websites will also help you find out more about how to realise your aspirations:
Why embed careers in your curriculum?
You could be providing the single inspirational moment that changes the direction of a student’s life.
When students see the links between their subjects, their futures and the real world, they understand why it’s important to study them. This means they are more engaged and more enthusiastic about your lessons!
All schools are required to provide CEIAG provision in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks. Gatsby Benchmark 4 requires all school teachers to link curriculum learning with careers: https://youtu.be/DH8zNcp4uEI .
Here are a few simple things you can do:
Create a careers display/poster in your classroom
Talk about pathways student could take at ages 16 and 18
Use these subject inspiration guides in your lessons – link underlined words to https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/my-learning-my-future
Highlight essential employability skills which link to activities you are doing
Talk about Labour Market Information for careers linked to your subject – link underlined words to our Labour Market Information webpage
Frame a lesson within a job role or job sector
Share your own story
Engage with parents, businesses and organisations
Invite alumni
This CEIAG statutory guidance clarifies the role of subject teachers in careers provision in schools.
Local businesses – we need your expertise!
At Sir William Robertson Academy we are busy growing your employees of the future. We need your help to raise their career aspirations, develop their employability skills and learn more about the exciting career opportunities available locally.
Being part of our business support network will provide you with moments of great satisfaction and help to inspire young minds. By getting involved you will not only be supporting future workforce development and helping our students prepare for their futures, but also be developing new skills for your staff, forging community links and building a positive profile for your company.
Ways to get involved
Give an inspiring talk based on your industry or job role
Invite students to visit your business premises to experience the world of work and expand their horizons
Offer a work experience placement for students at your business premises
Get involved in extracurricular clubs and activities
Run a hands-on workshop with activities relating to your area of expertise
Have a stand at our annual careers fair
Assist with mock interviews
Help students with CV writing
Be part of our discussions about pathways after school, e.g. apprenticeships
Help champion specific issues and challenge barriers in the workplace around gender stereotyping, disability, etc
Support an SEND student with their work experience
Help bring a subject lesson to life by linking it to your industry
If you think of something else, let us know!
We will support you throughout your involvement with us to ensure we maximise the use of your valuable time. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact our Careers Leader Mrs Sarai Dowding: sarai.dowding@swracademy.org
The world of work is continually changing and you may wonder what the future employment opportunities will look like. Whether you’re entering the world of work, changing your career path, running a business, getting back into work or advising someone, looking at future trends, the area around you and the different ways in which we work can help with planning your future career path.
Labour market information can tell you:
The number of people in certain types of jobs.
Which industries are recruiting and where they are located.
What jobs and skills employers are looking for.
Growing or declining job areas and general employment trends.
Labour market information (LMI) is vital in ensuring that students receive careers advice and guidance which reflects an understanding of what jobs are available in the local area. LMI provides valuable insights into the local area’s population demographics, employment trends and both local and national job prospects.
Use the ‘Careerometer’ to find out more about your careers interests and compare and contrast up to three different careers.
To keep you updated about your child’s Careers education, your child will receive an annual summary of their CEIAG activities and experiences alongside their annual report. Additionally, a termly Careers newsletter is sent out using MCAS and we also post updates about our exciting Careers activities and events on our social networks:
Take a look at our Careers Programme intent and plans and find out more about the Gatsby Benchmarks, which we use to inform and evaluate our CEIAG provision, here.
“80.75% of students say their parents help them to make key careers decisions” (All About School Leavers study, 2020)
Being a parent is a juggling act and knowing everything about careers on top of everything else can be a challenge. A careers conversation with your child can make a big difference and sharing your own story can help. You possibly have some contacts who could offer work experience or provide some feedback on a CV for example.
The following websites provide excellent careers guidance for parents/carers: