Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
A young person's career is their pathway through learning and work. All young people need a planned programme of activities to help them make the choices that are right for them and to be able to manage their careers throughout their lives.
We aim to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and attributes to make the most of changing opportunities in learning and work. At Rossett all students will follow a planned Careers Education Information and Guidance programme, which will help them to make these important decisions.
CEIAG is delivered to all students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and Sixth Form. The programmes for delivery to Years 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 are separately organised from the Year 12 & 13 programmes, where the responsibility for their management rests with the Sixth Form Leadership Team.
The delivery of the careers programme for all students is through PSHE lessons which are delivered by Form Tutors along with inputs from the Independent Careers Adviser, the Careers Leader, Directors of Learning, assemblies, careers themed off-timetable days, external visitors such as employers, guest speakers and visits to external organisations and events.
The provision of Careers Education is embedded into the weekly PSHE education at Rossett School. An overview of what is covered in lessons for each year group throughout the academic year is summarised below.
Year 7
In Year 7 students learn:
They also take part in a ‘Double Your Money’ competition, where students develop their entrepreneurial skills through enterprise activities.
Year 8
In Year 8 students use the ‘Which Way Now?’ guide produced by Careers Specialists ‘Prospects Education’ to make informed choices about what subjects they will choose for their Key Stage 4 options. During these lessons, students learn:
Year 9
In Year 9 students learn:
Year 10
In Year 10 students attend an Employers Conference within school, which is a whole day of Careers based activities for the year group. During this day, they can listen to keynote speakers, attend a jobs/careers fair where they can speak to representatives, take part in a mock job interview, and take part in a mock group interview task. These are all facilitated by representatives from industry & further education. During the lessons in the run up to this event, students learn:
At Rossett, all students in Years 10 and 12 will have the chance to undertake a period of work experience. Work experience gives students a fantastic opportunity to apply their skills and build their confidence in a work setting. For some, this will be their first experience of hands-on learning in a working environment, and a chance to explore what would be expected of them.
As well as providing first-hand experience, the skills that students develop will enhance their CV, provide them with examples to talk about on application forms and in interviews, and enhance their personal statement if they choose to apply to university. Many employers are happy to provide a reference, and students who demonstrate an exceptional work ethic and willingness to learn could even be offered future opportunities with that employer.
Year 11
In Year 11 students use the ‘It’s Your Choice’ guide produced by Careers Specialists ‘Prospects Education’ to make informed choices about what route they will choose during Post-16 education. During these lessons, students learn:
In addition to this, students will:
During the year students will also be given information about the Post 16 opportunities at Rossett School and other Post 16 providers
Year 12
In Year 12, students follow a comprehensive careers programme to ensure that they are fully informed and have the knowledge and skills needed to make the decisions for the next stage in their career journey. During their lessons, they will learn about:
Year 12 have an off-timetable week with a specific focus on careers and future choices. The activities involve:
Work Experience
At Rossett, all students in Years 10 and 12 will have the chance to undertake a period of work experience. Work experience gives students a fantastic opportunity to apply their skills and build their confidence in a work setting. For some, this will be their first experience of hands-on learning in a working environment, and a chance to explore what would be expected of them.
As well as providing first-hand experience, the skills that students develop will enhance their CV, provide them with examples to talk about on application forms and in interviews, and enhance their personal statement if they choose to apply to university. Many employers are happy to provide a reference, and students who demonstrate an exceptional work ethic and willingness to learn could even be offered future opportunities with that employer.
Additionally, Year 12 have a work experience week.
Year 13
In Year 13, students continue to focus on their next step as they prepare to move from Sixth Form into Further Education, Higher Education, Training or Employment. During their lessons and tutor time they will focus on:
All Year Groups
External IAG Careers staff provide optional individual meetings with students/parents at parents evening and by appointment
Interviews/support provided on A-Level results and GCSE results day to any students needing advice and guidance
Individual student interviews are provided across years 8 -13. Student needs are prioritised for interview
Information is posted on the careers noticeboard in main school and sixth form
Sixth form daily notices include apprenticeship vacancies/ pathways information/ university courses targeted at widening participation
Access to career planning software on all computers; namely EClips, Start and Unifrog
Website links from Rossett School website signposted to a range of up-to-date Careers websites (available to students and parents)
Destination data for Years 11 and 13 is collected and shared with the local authority at key points during the year
All faculties sign post careers related to their subjects through displays and links to external speakers and visits
What happens in a personal career guidance meeting?
Our meeting is an opportunity to think about where you are now, what you might like to do in the future, and what happens in between. You will be given the space to explore your ideas, work through your thinking and decision making, and to ask questions. We will talk about:
Personal career guidance gives you the space to:
What will happen in our meeting?
Once you feel comfortable, and we have agreed how we will work together, I will ask you about how things are going so far, and about your ideas for the future.
You can decide what you think it would be most helpful to focus on to start moving you forwards.
We will summarise our conversation in a format that works for you. We will think about the steps you want to take and any support you might need.
What will our careers meeting be like?
It will be a relaxed two-way conversation. It is not a formal meeting or an interview.
There are no right or wrong answers. You can be honest about your thoughts and feelings and you can decide how much information you want to share.
Your opinions are important, and you do not have to agree with the careers advisor.
YOU are in the driving seat. We won't tell you what to do but will work alongside you to explore options and opportunities.
You can let your careers advisor know how you prefer to communicate. If something isn't working we can try something else.
Importantly:
What will happen after your meeting
You will receive a summary of the key points we talked about and an action plan. This will include links to resources that might help you to make positive decisions about your next steps.
If you would like a follow-up meeting to get some more support or ask more questions, please let your Form Teacher know.
Feedback on your careers meeting is always welcome. Following the meeting you will be asked to complete a short feedback form to ensure we are constantly improving the support we offer.
How do I prepare for our meeting
Think about the choices you need to make. How do you feel about making those choices? What support and resources might you need to help you make those choices?
You might like to start researching your options. The following are good places to start
Think about what you would like to get out of the meeting. This is your careers meeting, so think about what would make it worthwhile for you, and how best you feel I could help.
Can I do work experience?
As well as providing first-hand experience, the skills that students develop will enhance their CV, provide them with examples to talk about on application forms and in interviews, and enhance their personal statement if they choose to apply to university. Many employers are happy to provide a reference, and students who demonstrate an exceptional work ethic and willingness to learn could even be offered future opportunities with that employer.
What is work experience?
Work experience can take place in the workplace or virtually. It allows you to experience what it is like to undertake a job, supervised by staff who already work in the environment.
It can vary from ‘tasters’ lasting just a few hours, through to programmes over one or two weeks, a few months, or even a year.
Some work experience placements offer a hands-on experience, while some provide observation, work shadowing and insights. All placements can provide a valuable experience to help you bridge the gap between school and work.
Work experience can: Confirm your career ideas, or completely change your mind Open your eyes to jobs you may never have considered Provide valuable experience for job, college or university applications Give you a chance to prove yourself to an employer Help you understand the attitudes and behaviours expected at work.
How can you get work experience?
Think about different ways you could get work experience to set yourself apart. Below are some suggestions to help you gain work experience
Go to face-to-face or virtual company events and open days
Help friends or family with a business
Set up your own small business enter competitions and skill challenges like World Skills
Go to work with a parent or guardian
Think about the different jobs people do at Rossett, and see if you could talk to them about their role (eg Catering, Human Resources, Finance, Maintenance, Teaching, Learning Support, Marketing and Communications, Careers, Administration)
Work shadowing provides a chance to watch someone doing a job for a day or a few days. You could do this to find out about a job role. If you already have a part-time job, you could use it to explore opportunities for personal development or a promotion. You could ask your manager if you could shadow someone in another department e.g. Finance, Marketing or Human Resources.
Some virtual work experience opportunities can be found at the follow:
Additional resources for parents and students
We aim to ensure that our students, their parents and carers have access to useful careers resources whenever you need them.
Please find below links to a range of career management and development resources. Many of the documents have links within them to further information and websites. We will regularly update these resources, but if you have any suggestions for additional resources you would find useful please email Mrs Wainwright
Black Apprenticeship Network:
Finding a Job
What is Labour Market Information and where can you find it?
Knowledge is Power - Manufacturing
Knowledge is Power - Health & Social Care
Knowledge is Power - Green Economy
Knowledge is Power - Culture, Media & Leisure
Knowledge is Power - Construction
Post-16 Options for Students who will sit their GCSEs
Post-16 Options for Students unlikely to sit their GCSEs
Social story for students transitioning from school to college
Into Apprenticeships 2024 - Th Guide for Disabled People
Easy to Read Access to Work Guide - support for when you start a job
Thinking about University:
Volunteering:
Work Experience:
Resources for Teaching Staff:
Good careers education can inspire students, develop their awareness of their own strengths, interests and motivations, and improve social mobility. It can open students’ eyes to careers they may never have considered and enables them to make informed decisions about their next steps. Research shows that effective careers education leads to improved behaviour, motivation and attainment. Please click on the link below for a range of useful resources to help you link curriculum learning to careers.
