Careers Programme
What we do:
We have met the Gatsby Benchmarks for excellent Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance so that our young people can access the necessary breadth of experiences for making informed choices about their future.
We have three timetabled extended sessions throughout the year, where students work in their form groups and focus on various aspects of their career pathways and employability. Using the objectives from the Equalex Framework to better equip all of our learners as leavers, we foster positive career learning and meaningful encounters that enable strong career decisions post-16.
These include an LMI day, looking at Labour Market Information in a local, national and global context, and themes of Maths and English in the Workplace.
We work with a range of business volunteers, discussing their own pathways and experiences and sharing employment opportunities within their respective companies. In previous years there has been a wide range of business and industry volunteers from journalism, engineering, public services, architecture, civil service, media, creative industries and technology. Students find this beneficial and often fed back on how it has raised their aspirations.
We also work with local Further Education providers, giving insight into courses available, study skills and how further study can benefit learner long term.
What we use:
We have a range of methods to help our young people achieve and understand what they need and what is needed from them as they prepare to transition from Lakelands post 16. We use an online platform called Unifrog (link below), and this, once accessed from school, can be accessed through the internet at their convenience.
We have an independent, impartial, Level 6 qualified Careers Adviser who carries out our 1:1 careers guidance interviews, she also attends our Networking Event where she can interface with parents as well as students.
Using the Objectives from the Equalex Framework to better equip all of our learners as leavers, we foster positive Careers Learning and positive encounters that enable strong Career decisions post 16.
We introduce students to a variety of employers, employees, Higher and Further Education providers and training/apprenticeship providers, in order to facilitate meaningful discussion and consideration of the different futures available to them.
We use an online platform called Unifrog from year 7 through to year 11 (have a look at unifrog.org to see how it can benefit your child and their future career plans and choices). With this, students can: undertake their own self assessments of interests, strengths and skillsets, carry out their own bespoke investigations into sectors that interest them, complete draft letters and CV type documents which are saved into a ‘locker’ that they can access as they need.
The Careers guidance and education programme we deliver at Lakelands Academy is seen as a continuous process from Year’s 7 – 11. Our careers programme is shared with students, parents/carers and the wider community.
Careers Lead and IAG Advisor
Vicky Wilkinson
Available for 1-to-1 meetings in school, ask your form tutor or Mrs Wilkinson.
Email: vicky.wilkinson2@lakelandsacademy.gov.uk
Enterprise Co-ordinator
Lucy Moran
Enterprise Advisor
Jane Pritchard
Please click here for more information about Jane, community Liaison for Aico Ltd.
Course Overview:
At Lakelands, we ensure that students, from Year 7 right through to Year 11, have access to good quality information about their future study options and choices.
Year Group Summaries:
Year 7 - Introduce:
"Opportunity awareness - Have a broad knowledge of a range of career opportunities which enables informed decision making."
"Self awareness - Aware of their passions, skills and work preferences and understand how these could inform their career choices."
Year 8 - Inspire:
“Being Inspired and motivated by careers opportunities which they may not have otherwise considered."
Year 9 - Investigate:
“Beginning planning for the future.”
“Understanding of growth sectors and the changing economy.”
“Understand how the local and national labour market is changing and what this might mean for their career choices.”
Year 10 - Explore:
"Exploration of roles and responsibilities - Have a deeper level of knowledge and understanding about the role responsibilities, and pathways of careers in areas of
interest."
Year 11 - Apply and Demonstrate:
"Applying Knowledge and Skills in the workplace - Can evidence when they have applied their knowledge and skills within the workplace
- Can articulate this to potential employers – Can make informed decisions about their next steps
- Can use their experiences to make informed career decisions."
Careers Policies:
Click here to see our Careers and Provider Access Policies
Careers Delivery Support:
Further careers information and guidance will be supported through the delivery of PSHEE lessons.
Careers information will be linked to curriculum learning. Teaching staff are accountable for supporting careers through the delivery of schemes of work, connecting subject learning to post 16 opportunities. Helping students to see the relevance of their curriculum to the world of work.
At Lakelands Academy, we are proud of the way we demonstrate, in all of our subjects, how learning is connected to the world of work. For example MYPATH video links for specific careers connected to areas of learning in the Curriculum, as well as making Careers links during visits and fostering connections with local employers and employees.
