Careers

Introduction to careers at Coombeshead Academy

 

At Coombeshead Academy we are committed to providing all our students in years 7 to 13 with a comprehensive planned programme of careers education, along with information, advice and guidance in partnership with external providers & professionals. We believe that giving students the correct careers education and guidance can improve their motivation to learn and help them to achieve.

 

The careers lead at Coombeshead Academy is Jo Chappell (Assistant Head Teacher)

Email address: jo.chappell@coombesheadacademy.org.uk

Telephone: 01626 201800

 

The careers link governor is Adrian Dodd

Email address: adrian.dodd@educationsouthwest.org.uk

 

The Curriculum Team Leader for Life Skills is Anna Salmons

Email address: anna.salmons@coombesheadacademy.org.uk

 

The independent careers advisor is Liz Ponsford

Email address: liz.ponsford@coombesheadacademy.org.uk

 

The linked Careers South West advisor is Rachel Bolt

Email address: rachel.bolt@cswgroup.co.uk

 

New statutory guidance for careers

January 2018 saw the introduction of new statutory guidance for careers. We are working towards achieving the eight Gatsby benchmarks linked to this guidance, much of which is already in place;

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

 

Our provision, which will be adapted as needs and opportunities arise, includes:
• Assemblies
• Careers Fairs and workshops
• Life Skills curriculum
• Guest Speakers
• Tutor Sessions
• Work experience (Y10 & Y12)
• Mock Interviews (Y11)
• One to one independent careers advice and personal guidance
• Visits to Further and Higher Education Establishments
• Visits to Employers
• Celebration of National Careers Week

Links are being constantly maintained and developed further with local Further Education Colleges, Sixth Forms, UTC’s and Universities.

 

Can you help?

To support the school’s careers programme we are always looking for professionals to work with us. Are you able to act as a mock interviewer? Can you offer careers talks? Can you offer work experience placements for our students in your workplace?

If you would like to be involved please contact Jo Chappell, Careers Lead, to discuss opportunities for you to join our programme.

 

Accessing Information about careers at Coombeshead Academy

Pupils, parents, teachers and employers can access careers information by taking a look at our careers policy which is reviewed and updated annually. Feedback is sought from key stakeholders use of staff/student voice questionnaires and feedback forms for employers and families. This feedback informs the annual review of the careers policy.

 

Coombeshead Academy Provision 2022-23

 

Gatsby Benchmarks	Y7	Y8	Y9	Y10	Y11	Y12	Y13
Careers Programme	Unifrog Life Skills	Unifrog Life Skills	Unifrog Life Skills	Unifrog Life Skills	Unifrog Life Skills	Unifrog Life Skills	Unifrog Life Skills
Learning from career and labour market information	Careers Fair Unifrog	Careers Fair Unifrog	Careers Fair Unifrog	Careers Fair Unifrog	Careers Fair Unifrog	Careers Fair Unifrog	Careers Fair Unifrog
Addressing the needs of each student	Life Skills Introduction to careers​/ Describing self and strengths​/ Challenging stereotypes / Raising aspirations / Managing money Unifrog	Life Skills Careers and life choices/​ Contributing to society/ ​ Meeting employers​/ Accessing careers information, advice and guidance  Unifrog	Life Skills GCSE option choices​/ Setting goals and transition to KS4​/ Learning strengths/ career options and goal setting​/ Money risks- debt, gambling and the influence of advertising Unifrog	Life Skills Careers advice from CSW and L Ponsford (targeted students)/ Assembly on WEX, apprenticeships Unifrog	Life Skills References/ Personal statements​/ Writing a CV​/ Preparing for post 16 interviews​/ Employment rights and responsibilities​/ Taking responsibility for your finances​/ Careers advice from CSW and L Ponsford Unifrog	Life Skills Careers advice from L Ponsford	Life Skills Careers advice from L Ponsford
Linking Curriculum learning to careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers	All curriculum mapping documents reference careers
Encounter with employers and employees	Assembly visits Careers workshop	Meet the employers Speed dating	Assembly visits Careers Workshop	Work experience
Experience of the workplace				Preparation for work experience		Preparation for work experience
Encounter with further and higher education	Careers Fair Assemblies	Careers Fair Assemblies	Careers Fair Assemblies	Careers Fair Visits for targeted students Assemblies	Careers Fair Visits for targeted students Assemblies Links with Apprenticeship Ambassadors	Careers Fair UCAS Fair Assemblies Links with Apprenticeship Ambassadors	Careers Fair UCAS Fair Assemblies Links with Apprenticeship Ambassadors
Personal Guidance				Careers appointments	Careers appointments	Careers appointments	Careers appointments

 

Careers Documents

 

Useful Careers Websites

Need to get some ideas?

Career Pilot

Explains clearly the choices you have at 13/14, 16 and 18.  It has information about lots of different careers and routes to all the job sectors. 

iCould

This site includes 100s of videos of people offering an inside view of their current job and a personal account of how they got there.  Try the Buzz Quiz to get some ideas based on your personality type!

National Careers Service

Use the Job Profiles to get information about the careers that interest you.  You can also look at all the different jobs there are in different areas such as Health, engineering, creative and media etc.

Unifrog

All Coombeshead Academy students have a Unifrog account. Students should check their school email accounts for their log-in details or email Miss Fry at renata.fry@coombesheadacademy.org.uk

https://www.unifrog.org/

Student Padlet

https://hotswcareershub.padlet.org/jacquelinehobson/student-padlet-yfp4rek12r1g196h

 

Interested in:

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths? See:

Future Morph

 

Being Creative? See:

CC Skills

Creative Skill Set

 

Health and Medical Careers?

Step into the NHS

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Thinking of getting an apprenticeship in the future?

Apprenticeships

Search for apprenticeship opportunities in the local area and across the country, including Advanced, Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.

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Planning to go to University?

Sacu Student

See the Spartan Test which asks you to choose from a series of images and uses your responses to create a personalised career cloud or degree cloud with lots of suggestions of courses and careers you may never have heard of!

UCAS

The UCAS site is the one to go to research all the information you need about Higher Education, including how to choose and apply for your course. Use the browse tool to get ideas based on your subject interests.

University Which

Lots of interesting information about going to university.  Use the A level Explorer tool to see the options with different A level combinations or find out which A levels are required for different degree subjects.

Prospects

Got a degree topic in mind but not sure where this may lead you.  Prospects is a graduate website with information about options with a specific degree subject.