Careers Provision

In order to ensure our students enjoy high quality careers guidance and experiences, we are embedding the eight Gatsby Benchmarks throughout our careers and employability programme. The Gatsby Benchmark is a report regarding career guidance in English secondary schools and how it could be improved. These benchmarks identify different aspects of good career guidance.

Stable careers programme

KS3

PSHE programme focuses on employability skills, personal finance, career options and pathway planning

KS4

PSHE programme focuses on application skills and Post-16 Pathways
PSHE programme focuses on employability skills, personal finance, career options and pathway planning
A range of events are in place to help students to gather information about pathways and providers

KS5

PSHE programme focuses on Post-18 pathways and applications, including student finance
A range of trips and events are in place to help students gather information about pathways and providers

Learning from career and labour market information

KS3

Parents and students are provided with information about Post-16 choices at the GCSE Options Evening
Focus in PSHE on gathering information about careers and the labour market

KS4

All students provided with information and guidance on the range of options available to them at Post-16
Parents invited to attend the Sixth Form Information Evening
Outside speakers invited into school to discuss options or students visit pathway specific events to gather information
Focus in PSHE on gathering information about careers and the labour market

KS5

All students provided with information and guidance on the range of options available to them at Post-18
Parents invited to attend an HE and Student Finance Evening
Outside speakers invited into school to discuss options or students visit pathway specific events to gather information.

Addressing the needs of each student

Support, guidance and advice is tailored to the individual student’s needs. These are identified by the tutor, Head of Year, Directors of Key Stage (including Head of Sixth Form), Pupil Premium Coordinator, SENCO and Careers Advisor.

Linking curriculum learning to careers

Every subject department seeks to integrate employability skills and subject specific employability routes into their curriculum
STEM liaison ensures a range of activities, trips and events are in place to engage our young people.

Encounters with employers and employees

Year 8 have a careers carousel event.
Year 9 have a 1-day 'workplace experience' during the summer term.
All Year 9 students take part in the ‘Enterprise’ two day event
All Year 10 students follow a CV writing programme culminating in mock interviews supported by representatives from local and national businesses
All students have the opportunity to attend assemblies, presentations and workshops run by representatives from the from local and national businesses

Experiences of workplaces

KS4

All students at the end of their Year 11 exams are encouraged to find work experience. Support is on hand to ensure students find high quality placements that reflect their ambitions

KS5

All students in Year 12 and Year 13 are encouraged to find work experience. Support is on hand to ensure students find high quality placements that reflect their ambitions

Encounters with Further and Higher Education

KS4 and KS5 programmes involve visits to HE providers

KS4 and KS5 students attend a range of workshops delivered by HE, FE and apprenticeship providers

All Sixth Form students attend the UCAS conference.

Personal Guidance

KS3

Year 8 and Year 9 students can request or be allocated a careers guidance session with our Careers Leader or Careers Advisor to support their GCSE option choices

KS4

By the end of KS4, all students will have had the opportunity to meet with the Careers Leader or the Careers Advisor in order to access advice and guidance

KS5

All Sixth Form students have the opportunity to meet with the schools Post 18 Careers Advisor, the Careers Leader or Careers Advisor

Provider Access

A provider wishing to request access to speak with our students about career pathways should refer to our access policy contained on our school’s website.

There are a range of opportunities to allow information to be presented to students: each year group has dedicated PSHE time and targeted assemblies to promote employability skills and pathway options.

Business and Employers

Southend High School for Boys welcomes employer contact to the school’s careers staff. This could be in respect of comments on our careers programme or offers to assist in the delivery of certain aspects of the programme: please use the contact details listed below.