Gatsby Benchmarks – how we meet them

1. A stable career programme - Careers Leader in post, Assistant Head with responsibility for Careers and link governor in post. Careers policy and detailed careers development plan in place, reviewed monthly and termly as part of the whole school improvement plan. Impact and feedback sought regularly by careers leader via evaluations, destination data, student, parent and staff surveys, focus groups and evaluations. We have key information for students, parents and employers, which can be found on the careers section of our website.

2. Learning from career and labour market information – This is introduced to Year 7. A number of our Personal Development lessons are dedicated to careers learning, this is enriched further through year group and needs based careers events and visits, talks to students, articles in the monthly Careers Newsletter and subject specific information and resources shared with teaching staff. We have a well-resourced careers library, produce a weekly careers information in the school bulletin for students and parents. Our careers team helps students to make the best use of available information. Parents are informed about key careers information and events via email or letter and a monthly careers bulletin is placed on the website under Careers.

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil – We organise a range of specific events to raise aspirations and challenge stereotypical thinking across the school. We target specific needs with events such as our NHS Day, Destinations Day, World of Work programme with DWP, Sixth Form transition Day, career learning is recorded on Compass Plus. Students are encouraged to record their Acton Plans and career learning on Unifrog, our chosen careers platform. We systematically track and analyse student destinations after students leave and share relevant information with Essex City Council.

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers – Personal Development lessons Staff Training has been delivered alongside Unifrog resources. Linking curriculum learning to careers is included in our new staff induction. Each Subject area has Careers boards with information about careers within those specific subjects. Our Instagram account highlights different careers and links in Black History Month, World Book day and International Women’s Day.

5. Encounters with employers and employees – All our pupils have the opportunity to meet with a range of employers at numerous events such as guest speakers, careers fairs, mock interviews, assemblies and external visits.

6. Experience of work places – We offer Year 10 and Year 12 work experience weeks to ensure students have had at least one meaningful experience of the workplace by the end of key stage four and five.

7. Encounters with further and higher education – The large majority of students will have meaningful encounters with sixth form colleges, further education colleges, universities and independent training providers via careers fairs, open evenings, assemblies, lectures and workshops. Students in Year 11 have the opportunity to attend a Careers Fair where Colleges and Universities attend along with a UCAS conference offered in years 12 and 13 and to targeted groups. Our Instagram page celebrates National Apprenticeship week by highlighting local apprenticeships throughout the week and which colleges are offering them.

8. Personal guidance – We have a qualified careers adviser from Directions IAG LTD (Matrix accredited) and a qualified careers leader. We are members of the Career Development Institute (CDI) and adhere to their code of practice. Students from Year 10 and 11 can request a careers appointment and all students will be offered at least one appointment or workshop during Key Stage 4 and in Key Stage 5, all students can request an appointment. In addition, specific students such as those with an educational health care plan (EHCP) will be seen more regularly by Preparing for Adulthood.