Careers
Careers Contact Information:
Careers Lead: Mr G McGurk
Email: mcgurkg@southlands.lancs.sch.uk
Phone: 01257 414 455
Independent Careers Advisor
Email: prestonju@southlands.lancs.sch.uk
Careers Programme
In addition to having speakers join us in school at various points in the year and opportunities for students to go and visit work place settings we offer the following programme to all students:
Year 7
Main Aims for year 7
Exploring what I enjoy Pupils identify their interests and begin to link these to the world of work. Pupils work in teams to develop business and enterprise skills.
| Activity | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught in PSHE | Write a letter to your future self identifying future aspirations | Discover LMI and job types and sectors | Explore what a career is and different pathways to achieve in different fields |
| In Morning Meeting Time | Introduction to Careers at Southlands | Employer speaker focusing on qualities and characteristics of a good employee | Reflection on work done to identify future aspirations and share some that were written in term 1 – have things changed now? |
| Other activities | Subject leaders to include career focussed elements | National Apprenticeship week Focus National Careers Week focus | Enterprise Challenge Day |
Year 8
Main Aims for year 8
Developing self-awareness and recognising different industries and sectors Looking at opportunities and options for future careers. Pupils discover what they enjoy but also what they are good at.
| Activity | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught in PSHE | Soft skills and employability modules | Discover LMI and job types and sectors | Explore what a career is and different pathways to achieve in different fields |
| In Morning Meeting Time | Peer assembly from KS4 to Year 8 talking about their changes in mindset to options throughout school | National Apprenticeship week Focus National Careers Week focus | Utilising external Agencies such as; Future U Ask Apprenticeships Young Enterprise Uni Connect |
| Other activities | Enterprise Challenge Day |
Year 9
Main Aims for year 9
Exploring Pathways and Choices Pupils have the chance to attend Industry days Pupils meet a variety of employers and learn about local opportunities
| Activity | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught in PSHE | Soft skills and employability modules | Discover LMI and job types and sectors | Explore what impact their choices for options will have |
| In Morning Meeting Time | Introduction to options and decision making | National Apprenticeship week Focus National Careers Week focus | Utilising external Agencies Future U Ask Apprenticeships Young Enterprise Uni Connect |
| Other activities | Industry trip questionnaire to discover groups for industry trips | Industry trips | Speed networking Guidance Interviews |
Year 10
Main Aims for year 10
The world of work and how your skills suit certain roles All students receive information regarding the Apprenticeship pathway for post-16 or post-18 study One-to-one interview with the Careers Advisor at least once in the year. Opportunity for parents to learn about local post-16 provision
| Activity | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught in PSHE | Soft skills and employability modules | National Apprenticeship week Focus National Careers Week focus Explore post 16 options | CV and Personal Statement workshops Setting Goals |
| In Morning Meeting Time | Alumni assemblies and sharing experiences including tips and tricks for college/life after school | National Apprenticeship week Focus National Careers Week focus | Utilising external Agencies Future U Ask Apprenticeships Young Enterprise Uni Connect |
| Other activities | Careers fair and Twilight Careers Fair | College taster days Guidance Interviews |
Year 11
Main Aims for year 11
Future pathways and making informed decisions A practice job interview for all pupils, carried out by local employers Pupils are tracked by the school regarding their college, apprenticeship, or work destination. Records are updated to include the start of the cross-agency work for pupils who are potentially NEET
| Activity | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught in PSHE | Completing an application form Interview preparation | Exploring the area and travel to work areas and new LMI | Exams |
| In Morning Meeting Time | College and Training provider assemblies | National Apprenticeship week Focus National Careers Week focus NCS Assembly | Exams |
| Other activities | Mock Interviews Guidance Interviews | Guidance Interviews | Exam and post result support |
All students also have access to our careers and guidance platform Xello. This can be accessed by clicking here and allows the students to look for advice and guidance as well as log their own achievements to help them gather information for personal statements and CVs when they get to the end of their time at Southlands.
How we measure Careers
The careers programme at Southlands is measured against the Gatsby Benchmarks. These are 8 standards that the school strives to meet. The are:
- A stable career programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
Southlands is regularly supported in self evaluation of our progress towards these 8 benchmarks by the Lancashire Careers Hub. The Careers Hub are excellent at advising the school about how to close any gaps we have in our provision. The evaluation that we do with the Careers Hub is logged on the nationally recognised Compass+ platform and our most recent report can be viewed here.
Next Review Date
The next review of our careers provision will take place before December 2023
