Windsor High School and Sixth Form
Rationale
Careers education and guidance programmes make a major contribution to preparing young people for the opportunities,
responsibilities and experiences of life. A planned progressive programme of activities supports them in choosing 14 – 19
pathways that suit their interests and abilities and help them to follow a career path and sustain employability throughout
their working lives. It is a schools statutory duty to provide every student in years 7 – 11 with a careers education (1997
Education Act, 2003 Education Regulations) and to ensure that students have access to both information and guidance (1997 Education
Act, 2008 Education and Skills Bill).
Commitment
Windsor High School and Sixth Form is committed to providing our students with a programme of careers education, information,
advice and guidance (IAG) for all students in years 7 – 13, alongside Black Country Connexions Service.
Windsor High School and Sixth Form endeavours to follow the National Framework for CEG 11 – 19 in England (DfES, 2003) and other
relevant guidance from DCSF, QCA and Ofsted as it appears.
Windsor High School and Sixth Form is committed to gaining the Black Country Quality Award.
Aims
Windsor High School and Sixth Form’s Careers Education and Guidance policy has the following aims:-
- to contribute to strategies for raising achievement, especially by increasing motivation
- to support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity
- to encourage participation in continued learning including higher education and further education
- to develop enterprise and employment skills
- to reduce drop out from and course switching in education and training
- to contribute to the economic prosperity of individuals and communities
- to meet the needs of all our students through appropriate differentiation
- to focus students on their future aspirations
- to involve parents and carers
Roles / Responsibilities and Accountability
Please refer to relevant pages of staff handbook with flow chart of staff structure.
Student Entitlement
Careers Education and guidance (CEG) is an important component of the 14-19 Curriculum and at Windsor High School and Sixth
Form, we fully support the statutory requirement for a programme of careers education in Years 7 – 11.
Development
The policy was developed and is reviewed biennially by the Curriculum Leader Careers and his / her Line Manager (Assistant
Headteacher) based on current good practice guidelines by DfES/ Ofsted, CEG Framework.
Links with other Policies
It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Teaching and Learning, Assessment, Recording and
Reporting Achievement, Citizenship, PSHE, Work Related Learning and Enterprise, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Health and
Safety, Gifted & Talented and Special Needs.
Implementation of Careers Education
Careers Education is delivered during collapsed timetable sessions in Years 7 – 11 by Curriculum Leader of Careers, supported
by tutors, at key appropriate points throughout the academic year.
Equality and Diversity
Careers education is provided to all students and provision is made to allow all students to access the curriculum.
Students are encouraged to follow career paths that suit their interests, skills and strengths with the absence of stereotypes.
All students are provided with the same opportunities and diversity is celebrated.
Year 7
The focus is about introducing careers and thinking about the vast number of careers / jobs available.
Year 8
The focus is linking our plans and dreams to reality.
Year 9
The focus is self assessment, career paths and options post 14.
Year 10
The focus is work experience including preparation, implementation and evaluation.
Year 11
The focus is post 16 options and the Application process.
Implementation of Careers Guidance
i) Careers library
- a wide range of materials
- open throughout the school day
- situated in the main library
ii) Connexions Advisor (Careers)
- available to all students 1 lunchtime per week
- used for individual interviews with all year 11’s and other targeted pupils throughout the year
- available at Careers Events
iii) Extra support where appropriate
- pupils in Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 are targeted for extra help by SENCO, Head of KS3 and KS4, Head of House and Head of
Careers
iv) Careers Evening
- a Post 16 Open Evening is arranged in school to compliment other Open Events run by local colleges
v) IT
- a range of software products are available for pupils to use. These include:
- FAST TOMATO
- MY PROGRESSFILE ONLINE
- CAREERSBOX
Parents and carers
Parental involvement is encouraged at all stages. Online resources have been specifically chosen to help parents become more
involved. All online resources are easily accessed through the links on the school website. Parents are kept up to date with
careers related information through letters, newsletters and at open evenings. Parents are welcome at careers interviews and where
necessary are invited.
Management
A named member of staff co-ordinates the Careers programme and is responsible to his / her senior management line manager.
The F.A.S.T Co-ordinator is responsible for the work of the assigned administrative team.
Currently Work Experience is also the responsibility of the F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator.
Staffing
All staff contribute to CEG through their roles as tutors and subject teachers.
Administrative staff are assigned to support the F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator.
The Careers programme is planned, monitored and evaluated by the F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator.
The F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator will liaise and consult with the Connexions PA to ensure that specialist career guidance is available
when required.
The F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator is responsible for maintaining the Careers Library.
Curriculum
The Careers programme includes careers education sessions, career guidance activities (group work and individual interviews),
information and research activities, work related learning and individual learning activities.
Careers lessons are part of the schools Personal Development Programme. Other events and activities are planned and organised
separately throughout the year.
Partnerships
A partnership agreement is ongoing with the Black Country Connexions service, detailing the contributions to the programme
that each will make.
Other links with local 14-19 Providers are made when required. As are links with the local EBP, Aim-Higher, Post 16 and 18
destinations. Links with parents / carers are maintained using a variety of methods (parental leaflets, letters, options
evenings, Post 16 Evenings).
Resources
Funding is allocated in the annual budget. The F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator is responsible for the effective deployment of resources.
Staff Development
Staff training needs are identified as part of the Partnership Agreement process and during regular planning meetings between
the F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator and his/her Line Manager.
Funding is accessed through Connexions and from school funds. The school will endeavour to meet training needs within a reasonable
period of time.
Monitoring Review and Evaluation
Careers Education is monitored and evaluated annually via the Faculty Review System (see monitoring policy). Careers Guidance
is monitored and evaluated annually through discussion with key staff and pupils and appropriate observation of activities by the
Deputy Head CEG Line Manager.
The Partnership Agreement with Connexions is reviewed termly.
The programme is reviewed annually by the F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator and his / her Leadership Team Line Manager. Changes and
improvements to the programme are entered into the Faculty Improvement Plan (FIP) along with timescales for completion.
When reviewing the programme, the School Improvement Plan (SIP) is used to ensure that the Careers Faculty is fully supporting
whole school aims.
Policy Co-ordinator: Rebecca Tymoshyshyn (F.A.S.T. Co-ordinator)
Policy Reviewed: January 2010
Policy sent to Leadership Team and Governors for approval.
Appendix 1
Definitions
- Careers Education - helps young people develop the knowledge and skills they need to make successful choices, manage
transition in learning and move into work,
- Careers Guidance - enables young people to use the knowledge and skills they develop to make the decisions about learning
and work that are right for them.
- F.A.S.T. - Future Aspirations, Skills and Training
Entitlement statement
Windsor High School and Sixth Form
Excellence for All
Statement of entitlement
As a pupil of Windsor High School and Sixth Form you are entitled to receive a programme of careers education, advice, information
and guidance
Your CEG programme will help you to:
- Understand yourself, your interests, likes and dislikes, what you are good at and how this affects the choices you make
- Find out about different courses, what qualifications you might need and what opportunities there might be
- Develop the skills you may need for working life
- Make realistic, but ambitious, choices about courses and jobs
- Develop a plan of action for the future
- Understand the different routes after Year 11 including training, further and higher education and jobs
- Be able to make effective applications for jobs, training and further and higher education
- Develop your interview skills
- Improve your confidence
You will gain this knowledge and these skills by becoming involved in the following aspects of the CEG programme provided
by Windsor High School and Sixth Form
- Careers lessons
- Collapsed registration activities
- Guided tutor time
- Completion of Work Experience
- Using the careers library – information is available in books, videos, leaflets and on computer – ask for help
- Interviews with the Connexions Personal Adviser
- Work experience
- Other subject lessons linked to careers
You can expect to be:
- Treated equally with others
- Given careers information and advice that is up to date and impartial
- Treated with respect by visitors to the school who are part of the careers programme
- Given extra help if you have special needs