Context

Every young person should leave school best prepared for life in modern Britain. A young person’s career is the progress they make in learning and work. All young people need a planned programme of activities to help them choose pathways that are right for them and to be able to manage their careers, learning and sustain employability throughout their lives. They also need to be well informed when making subject and career decisions.

Careers Education and Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) makes a major contribution to preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life, in order to help them make a successful transition to adulthood by:

• Supporting young people to plan and manage their own futures
• Providing comprehensive information on all options
• Raising aspirations
• Promoting equality, diversity, social mobility and challenging stereotypes
• Enabling young people to sustain employment and achieve personal and economic well-being throughout their lives

Harrow Way Community School is committed to providing all its students with a planned programme of careers education and work-related learning activities throughout their school career, with opportunities at key transition points to access up-to-date, impartial information and expert advice and guidance.

Harrow Way is committed to maximising the benefits for students by using a whole school approach involving parents, carers, employers and other local agencies.

Harrow Way Community School’s CEIAG programmes follow the Association for Careers Education and Guidance (ACEG) Framework (2018), the CDI Framework for careers, employability and enterprise education and the eight Gatsby benchmarks for providing good career guidance.
Click here to view an overview of our Careers Program.

Aims

The School’s CEIAG programme is designed to meet the needs of all students at Harrow Way Community School. It is differentiated and personalised to ensure progression through activities that are appropriate to students’ stages of career learning, planning and development. To show our commitment to careers education, as a school we are aiming to achieve the Quality in Careers Standard. More information on this award can be found here.

Students are entitled to CEIAG which meets professional standards of practice and which is person-centred, impartial and confidential. It will be taught by trained professionals, in partnership with the school’s Careers Advisor.

CEIAG will be integrated into students’ experience of the whole curriculum and will be based on a partnership with students and their parents or carers. The programme will raise aspirations, challenge stereotyping and promote equality and diversity.

Delivery

Management
The Assistant Head Teacher for Operations, Examinations, Careers/Post 16 and Enrichment has strategic responsibility for the management of CEIAG, including the day-to-day delivery of the CEIAG programme, and has oversight of the careers adviser. They also have access to administrative support.

Staffing
All staff are expected to contribute to CEIAG through their roles as tutors, subject teachers and support staff. Careers Education in Years 9-11 is delivered as part of the Careers and Personal Development Programme. These lessons are taught by a trained team of teachers. Lessons are enriched by relevant external visitors such as representatives from Colleges, local Apprenticeship providers and local employers. The CEIAG programme is planned, monitored and evaluated annually. Impartial and accurate IAG at transition points, such as the Year 9 options process, is the responsibility of all teaching and support staff. One-to-one guidance is given to all students and their parents during an interview with a member of the senior leadership team.

The Assistant Head Teacher is responsible for the Careers Adviser who provides specialist and impartial careers IAG on a one-to-one basis for students. The Assistant Head Teacher and Year Leaders ensure that key groups such as students with an Education and Health Care Plan, students with Special Educational Needs, Looked After Children, those with poor attendance, traveller children and students from Black Minority and Ethnic groups are prioritised in their access to a one- to-one Careers Guidance meetings.

Curriculum
The CEIAG programme includes careers education sessions, career guidance activities (group work and individual interviews), information and research activities and work-related learning. Year 11 students receive Provider Assemblies and College taster days, together with access to a broad programme of information, including a careers fair for parents and students.  Year 10 students receive 5 days of Work Experience.

Partnerships
The policy recognises the range of partners that support the CEIAG offer within Harrow Way Community School. These include:

• Work Experience Health and safety checks provided through a service level agreement negotiated between the school and EBP South.
• Close liaison with post 16 providers and higher education institutions including Assemblies and access to Parent Evenings to provide regular access for Parents and Students to up to date information.
• Access to Employers and training providers.
• Parents and carers.

Funding
Funding is allocated in the annual budget planning round in the context of whole school priorities and particular needs in the CEIAG area. The Assistant Head Teacher is responsible for the effective deployment of resources.

Staff Development
Staff training needs are identified as part of the school performance management cycle. The school will endeavour to meet training needs within a reasonable period of time.

Quality in Careers Standard

To show our commitment to careers education, as a school we are working towards achieving the Quality in Careers Standard. More information on this award can be found here

Impact Measurement

The CEIAG programme is reviewed and evaluated annually every January by the Assistant Head Teacher as part of the school self-evaluation process. A report is submitted to the Senior Leadership Team termly and the Governors annually.  Destination data is annually reviewed and can be viewed here.