Aims and Objectives

 School Mission Statement

‘To prepare articulate, questioning, tolerant and independent women for the future.’

Statutory Obligations for Careers in School

In line with the statutory guidance for governing bodies, school leaders and school staff, careers guidance and access for education and training providers, Penwortham Girls’ High School’s Futures Policy ensures that all registered pupils at this school are provided with independent careers guidance from Year 8 to Year 11. The independent careers guidance provided:

• is presented in an impartial manner, showing no bias or favouritism towards a particular institution, education or work option.
• includes information on the range of education or training options, including apprenticeships and technical education routes.
• is guidance that the person giving it considers will promote the best interests of the pupils to whom it is given.
• Careers information and guidance at PGHS is a progressive journey from Year 7 to 11. 

The aims of the Careers programme at PGHS are:

• To develop positive attitudes in the pupils towards study and work.
• To develop employability and enterprise skills, such as teamwork and communication.
• To help students to plan and take control of their future making informed choices at key points in their education.
• To provide students with the relevant careers inspiration and guidance that is suitable to their personal needs including age, ability, attitudes and aptitudes.
• To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of opportunities post 16 and post 18 including traineeships, apprenticeships, school leaver programmes, HE, FE, employment and training opportunities.
• To help students to reflect on themselves – their abilities, skills, aptitudes and attitudes – so that they can use this knowledge to consider their development.
• To provide students with impartial advice about options that is available to them.
• To provide equal opportunity of access to careers inspiration and guidance.

The annual Careers Programme gives a more detailed overview of this tailored approach.

Implementation of Careers Education

These aims are achieved through the Futures curriculum which is outlined below. All strategies are in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks. Careers Compass is completed three times per year and action points inform improvements.

The Curriculum Leader along with the Enterprise Advisor network, Independent Careers Advisor, curriculum leaders external providers, Lancashire Education Partnership, and employers strive for continuous improvement and build on each benchmark further.

The school is strongly committed to achieving all 8 Benchmarks: 

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. Experience of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal Guidance

The Provision

1. Careers inspiration and support starts in Year 7 through introductory Community Studies lessons allowing the students to reflect on where they are now and on what they want to do in the future. Students are introduced to the online careers information available to them and they get the opportunity to use Fast Tomato, a career matching software package. They are also introduced to the National Careers Service Website focusing on job profiles and job sectors. Year 7 also fully engage with a range of employers through our annual Futures Days workshops as well as lunchtime employer drop ins which take place throughout the year.
   
   
2. Students continue using Fast Tomato in Year 8, investigating possible career routes and matching skills and qualities to suitable occupations. Students are introduced to possible opportunities and pathways post 16. Stereotyping is addressed in each year group to ensure all students are aware and fully embrace the importance of equal opportunities. The Futures Lead delivers a whole assembly to the year 8 cohorts about the different post 16 routes available giving in depth discussion of the different courses available including an apprenticeships talk. A local University provide an introduction to Higher Education assembly followed by a Q/A session. Students can also request an impartial Careers interview with the school Careers officer to be scheduled during parents evening. Year 8 also fully engage with a range of employers through our annual Futures Days workshops as well as lunchtime employer drop ins which take place throughout the year.
   
   
3. Year 9 use the National Careers Service and Fast Tomato to investigate entry requirements for particular jobs in preparation for their option choices. There is a well-planned options process planned, to help students make informed choices.  The Futures Lead provides an assembly on post 16 opportunities, including- academic, vocational and apprenticeship routes, supported by further assemblies delivered by the CIAG Advisor.  Year 9 also fully engage with a range of employers through our annual Futures Days workshops as well as lunchtime employer drop ins which take place throughout the year.
   
   
4. In Year 10, all pupils take part in a one-week Work Experience programme which involves over 100 employers each year. The aim is to give pupils first hand experience of the world of work. The parents and the students themselves find the vast majority themselves. Students are fully prepared for their placement through planned careers lessons during Community Studies, which include a full investigation into Health and Safety in the workplace. Students receive at least three careers assemblies throughout the year including- finding a suitable placement, a work experience brief and de-brief on their return. There are regular alumni Visits to inspire and motivate students from a variety of pathways. Year 10 also fully engage with a range of employers through our annual Futures Days workshops as well as lunchtime employer drop ins which take place throughout the year.  Year 10 also take part in several college taster days at the end of the year.
   
   
5. Year 11 have a planned Careers Inspiration and Guidance Management Programme that is completed throughout the year. It involves a variety of impartial experiences and workshops with employers and providers giving inspiration and guidance in a range of industry sectors. Year 11 also take part in a Careers Fair. This gives students the opportunity to seek impartial guidance and advice from over 50 professionals and organisations, in order to help with their post 16 options and decisions. A workshop is delivered by our Careers Advisor about Apprenticeship opportunities and information is given as to where additional guidance can be received this is delivered by an outside provider.  Both Runshaw College and Newman College deliver application form and CV workshops, and they take part in practice interviews with HMRC. This experience, together with a personal debrief session, gives students far more confidence during interviews, as well as providing impartial inspiration.
   
   

The in house Community Studies programme includes investigating post 16 options, letters of application, CV’s, application forms and interview techniques. Students also attend a labour market and Fast Tomato research workshop. Students are regularly given open day information during assembly and form time. Students receive at least three careers assemblies throughout the year giving information on how to utilise the careers opportunities organised within school. Year 11 also fully engage with lunchtime employer drop in sessions which take place throughout the year.

Entitlement to Careers Education and Guidance

All Pupils in Years 8-11 currently have access to an Impartial Careers Advisor, typically by appointment or lunchtime drop ins. This time is fully utilised by students. The Careers Library is updated with prospectuses, apprenticeship and traineeship vacancies, help sheets, careers information and has computer access.
Students and parents are also encouraged to use the careers link on the school website which gives updates, web links.
 

PGHS makes use of the PGHS Weekly Newsletter, website and student bulletin and encourages both students and parents to follow the department on Twitter for the latest updates.
 

There is a calendar of events on the school website which gives students and parents advanced notices of up and coming events, presentations, initiatives and workshops.

At the end of Year 11 students get to keep their detailed Futures File, which has been compiled over the five years.  Students are proud of their work and experiences and take this seriously.

All Year Groups have the opportunity to develop their employability and enterprise skills through taking part in various activities on the Futures Days. Examples include teamwork, presentation, finance, listening skills and creativity.

Alumni are regularly used to inspire students and act as role models covering a range of subjects and year groups.

Evaluation/Quality Assurance

The school is committed to CPD for Careers and all staff receive CPD opportunities as part of the annual CPD programme.

Regular meetings with Lancashire Education Partnership and the School Enterprise Link ensures a robust programme which meets all the criteria of the Gatsby Benchmarks and Government Statutory Guidance.

This combined with extensive pupil voice and parent and external provider comments ensures that there is a robust Careers programme that caters for all.

Annual Monitoring and Evaluations

• Reviews with Lancashire Education Partnership
• Reviews with the independent Careers Advisor
• Pupil Voice in all year groups of all events
• Internal monitoring includes, reviews with form tutors and pastoral leaders.
• Work Experience monitoring, reviews from pupils, parents, employers and visiting staff from school.
• Work experience, application form workshop and practice interview evaluations

Destinations

All student destinations are collected in house by the Futures Lead in collaboration with the Lancashire Education Authority and changes are made to the Careers programme accordingly.