Careers
CEIAG Coordinator: Mrs Emily Vadis
(To contact Mrs Vadis, please use careers@camshill.com or 01329 231641)
An outline of the CEIAG opportunities at Cams Hill School can be found here.
Good careers guidance helps inspire students towards further study and enables them to make informed decisions whenever choices are open to them. It helps them to understand enough about the world of work to know what skills they need to succeed. It is important for social mobility because it helps to open students’ eyes to careers they may not have considered.’ (Gatsby Report, 2014).
The release of the ‘Careers strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents’ (2017) places a statutory duty on all schools/academies to use the Gatsby benchmarks (listed below) to inform and develop their careers provision. Recent changes reflect the need to provide access to both technical and apprenticeship providers as well as offering independent careers advice to all pupils.
An emphasis must now be placed on students having meaningful encounters with employers in every year they attend secondary school. A meaningful encounter is one in which the student has an opportunity to learn about what work is like or what it takes to be successful in the workplace and to be able to ask questions.
The Gatsby Benchmarks
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market
- Addressing the needs of every student
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounter with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal Guidance
Pupils in Years 8 to 11 are entitled to:
- find out about technical education qualifications, T-levels and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
- hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
- understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses including apprenticeships.
- Every pupil will have two compulsory encounters with technical providers and numerous encounters with employers by the end of each year.
At Cams Hill School we offer 1:1 careers interviews with a qualified individual to all Year 11 pupils and to any pupil who would benefit at an earlier time. We offer multiple opportunities for pupils to meet colleges/apprenticeship providers including (but not exclusively) the Year 9 Careers and Guided Choices Evening, Year 11 Colleges Evening and various events throughout the year. Year 10 enjoy work experience week, a college visit and mock interview day. Year 9 pupils spend a term of tutor time activities researching careers and enterprise skills. We have regular talks from local and national members of industry from STEM, arts and many other sectors.
Whilst we now work closely with a large number of local industry representatives and all local FE providers we are always happy to hear from local businesses who can help us further. Talking to our pupils is enlightening and raises aspirations. It also is an ideal way to develop staff and improve their communication skills etc. If you would like to present to our pupils, then please download and follow the Provider Access Policy which can be found on our Policies page. With hundreds of employers supporting our pupils each year you will be in good company.
Teachers and pupils may wish to access the below resources for further guidance. We also have the Cams Hill Career Website which has an abundance of information to help navigate all things CEIAG.
Morrisby is a popular careers tool, with information about careers and a questionnaire to help you explore your ideas. Go to www.morrisby.com. Click on ‘Signup’ and enter ‘CHSS’ unless you already have a username and password in which case click on ‘log-in’ and enter your details.
Further information about local colleges and apprenticeship providers can be found at camshillcareers.com
All young people are expected to stay in some form of learning after Year 11, until their 18th birthday. This could be at a 6th form or a college, in an apprenticeship or traineeships. You could also have a job or volunteer, but you should have at least 20 hours of education or training as well. For more information, go to www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school.
The Baker Clause
The Baker Clause states that schools must allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 8 to 13 to discuss non-academic routes.
It also states that schools need to impartially promote the full range of technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
The Baker Clause forms an important part of a school or college’s careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) programme. By complying with the clause, schools will also be meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks which relate to students being introduced to the full range of pathways.
An amendment to the clause in February 2022 ensured that the guidance is now legally enforceable. Ofsted have also updated their handbook and clarified that they will report where a school falls short of the requirements.
Cams Hill School Proposal:
- Years 10 and 11 receive regular assemblies from local providers. These will be numerous and could be up to 12 different encounters.
- Careers week in July utilised to ensure pupils encounter talks from two apprenticeship providers and a T-level provider to ensure that the Baker clause is more than covered.
- We have contacts with and will use all local colleges (all provide technical courses including t-levels), the military (army is the largest apprenticeship provider in the UK). And local providers such as PETA and Steve Willis etc.
Further Education
There is a wide range of post-16 academic and vocational courses available at all different levels at your local 6th forms and colleges. Check their prospectuses and websites for the schools and colleges you are interested in, and attend their open evenings.
T-Levels are a qualification aimed at bridging the gap between academic routes and vocational courses. They offer substantial work experience opportunities with relevant local employers and cover an increasingly large range of subjects. These qualifications also carry UCAS points to enable pupils to progress onto higher education if they wish.
When you apply to college or 6th form you may need some support with costs such as transport and equipment for your course. The college may have a discretionary fund and you may be able to apply for some support. Speak to the college about this to see if you are eligible.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Apprenticeships are available at various levels and provide paid work with an employer or training provide, alongside study to gain appropriate vocational qualifications. Find out more and look at vacancies at www.getingofar.gov.uk.
Traineeships are available to prepare young people for entry to apprenticeships. They involve work experience with an employer, employability skills, and the basic educational skills required by employers – Maths and English. Find out more at www.getingofar.gov.uk/traineeships.
Higher Education
This is post-18 study, where you need a minimum of Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A levels). It is usually in universities, but could also be at a specialist Higher Education Institution (HEI) or in some further education colleges. Check out www.ucas.com for information, and www.gov.uk/student-finance for details about finance.
Volunteering
You can get involved with a wide range of interesting voluntary work which can help with your self confidence, CV and future job applications. Visit www.do-it.org.uk for opportunities.
Review
Cams Hill School’s CEIAG curriculum impact is measured via regular pupil voice from Year 10 and Year 11; governor reports and visits; and pupil destination data which can be found here (including NEETs).
If you have any further questions or would like advice or to book a careers interview for your child then please email careers@camshill.com
Reviewed: June 2023 (next reviewed June 2024).