CAREERS AT BLESSED WILLIAM HOWARD

School Careers link - Miss J Capewell - jc@bwh.staffs.sch.uk

Careers Advisor (Entrust) Becky Green
Becky is qualified to Level 6 to provide impartial information, advice and guidance to young people aged 13-19 (and up to 25 with learning difficulties and disabilities) She comes into school on a weekly basis to offer 1-1 impartial careers guidance appointments (to meet Gatsby Benchmark 8)

Career interviews consist of-

Developing self-awareness
Researching careers
Exploring options (Sixth Form, Colleges, Apprenticeships, Training opportunities, University, Employment)

Encouraging to set goals and career plan for the future.

Enterprise Coordinator for the Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub, Steve Rogers (funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company). The purpose of the Careers Hub and the Careers and Enterprise Company is to reform careers education across England. Our aim is to ensure the children at Blessed William Howard are best prepared to achieve their full potential in the workplace of the future. My role is to support your Careers Leader with the planning, delivery and evaluation of your school's Careers Education Programme and offer information, advice & guidance on how to best meet the Government's Framework for the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Enterprise Advisor, Mr Ken Stepney
Ken originally qualified as an engineer and has worked in the civil engineering machinery business for most of his career. His responsibilities have covered Sales and Marketing, Market Development and People Development in various General Management positions he was also the Head of Global Training at JCB.
Since retiring from JCB in 2012 Ken was given the responsibility of representing JCB at the Staffordshire LEP board where he chaired the counties education trust for the six-year term. Simultaneous to this, he has his own consultancy company specialising in people/team development to various organisations ranging from fashion to education and industry. He is an ex-director of the B2Gether organisation promoting STEAM projects and is a Fellow of Burton and South Derby College

The importance of careers education, information and guidance (CEIAG)

CEIAG is deemed a priority at Blessed William Howard Catholic School. Our overarching aim is to encourage all students at our school to consider the next stage in their career journey through engagement with a high quality and stable Careers programme from Year 7 to 13.

Key Objectives:

To develop information, knowledge and understanding of their transition options available at post-16 and post-18 destinations such as within our own BWH Sixth Form Partnership, local colleges and training providers, including courses in A levels, T levels, Apprenticeships, BTECs, Diplomas and employment.
To help students to make informed decisions through access to a Level 6 qualified and highly experienced independent and impartial Careers Advisor from Entrust.
To engage in meaningful dialogues with employers, employees and workplaces to create a bespoke programme of events to take place on a hybrid basis, both in-school and virtually, during PSHE drop-down days and other events held throughout the year. Where possible, there will be a biannual careers' fayre to bring together the best representation of university, FE college and training providers as well as employers from our local area.
To promote the effective use of pertinent Labour Market Information (LMI) for Staffordshire, and beyond, differentiated for their year group so students have a clear understanding of the emerging jobs market, particularly one suitable for a post-Covid recovery economy.
To prepare older students for the pressure of exams and stress management as they learn study skills that will be beneficial for them as they begin to enter the world of work.
To support an aspirational and insightful work experience placement in Years 10 and 12 that promotes equity and social mobility for all students regardless of background.
To engage positively with the Staffordshire's inspirational Higher Horizons outreach programme to ensure equitable access to the best Information, Advice and Guidance at a Higher Education (university) level of study.
To place a high priority on students being given the chance to develop their workplace and employability skills (such as writing applications, CVs, interview preparation, delivering oral presentations, problem solving, teamwork), which will allow them to become effective employees in the future and have a rewarding career journey.
Above all else, to develop confidence, resilient young people with excellent mental health support who are fully prepared to successfully make the next step in their educational journey.

Gatsby Benchmarks

Benchmark 1

A Stable Careers Programme. Every school should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents/carers, teachers, governors, and employers.

Benchmark 2

Learning from Career and Labour Market Information. Every student and their parents/carers should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser.

Benchmark 3

Addressing the Needs of Each Student. Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

Benchmark 4

Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers. All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of careers paths

Benchmark 5

Encounters with Employers and Employees. Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

Benchmark 6

Experiences of Workplaces. Every student should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing, and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

Benchmark 7

Encounters with Further and Higher Education. All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.

Benchmark 8

Personal Guidance. Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career’s adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

Baker Clause Statement - September 23

Date of next review: September 2024

Information for Students

Information for Parents

Information for Employers