VISION / RATIONALE / GATSBY
The place to visit for all information advice and guidance relating to your future career pathway and aspirations. Your future is important to us and we are here to support you at every stage of life as a St Robert’s student. Information relating to career choices, work experience, apprenticeships and employer engagement opportunities will be updated throughout the year. In the meantime if you have any questions relating to your future, then speak to our on-site careers advisor or a member of our pastoral team.
Careers Advisor: Mrs Tracey Green
Assistant Headteacher – Vocational Leader: Mr John Green
Telephone: 01917161700
email: school@str.bwcet.com
To book an appointment (Year 7 -13), fill in a request form available from the main school library and post in the letterbox provided or contact Mr John Green directly.
Our Vision
To ensure all pupils are supported to make informed decisions on their career choices and are provided with the opportunity to develop their employability skills to become responsible and employable members of society. We will provide pupils with the knowledge to make career decisions based on their ability, aspirations and market needs in an increasingly competitive and ever-changing world.
Our Philosophy
At St Robert of Newminster School our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme is an integral part of the preparation of pupils for the opportunities and experiences of adult life. Its central concern is equipping pupils to manage the choices, changes and transitions affecting their future education, training, employment and life as adult members of society.
Rationale for CEIAG
All young people need a planned programme of activities to help them choose a 11-19 pathway that is right for them. Our CEIAG programme should enable pupils to:
Be more self aware about their own skills, aptitudes, values, aspirations and potential
Have a better understanding of education, training and future career opportunities.
Make informed choices about their own continuing education, training and future career paths
Develop career management skills of self reliance, adaptability, flexibility, decision making and problem solving
Gatsby Benchmarks
At St Robert’s we believe that careers guidance is a progressive journey. Our careers programme is structured to support students throughout their time in school. We aim to ensure all pupils receive the relevant careers information, advice and guidance that is suitable for their age and ability through the implementation of the Eight Gatsby Career Benchmarks, written by Sir John Holman, a former Headteacher and founder of the National STEM Learning Centre.
Sir John wrote the Good Career Guidance Report after carrying out extensive research around the world.
The Eight benchmarks are a framework for good career guidance developed to support schools in providing students with the best possible careers education, information, advice and guidance
BENCHMARK 1 – A STABLE CAREERS PROGRAMME
Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers.
BENCHMARK 2 – LEARNING FROM CAREER AND LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
Every pupil, and their parents, should have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information.
BENCHMARK 3 – ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF EACH PUPIL
Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
BENCHMARK 4 – LINKING CURRICULUM LEARNING TO CAREERS
All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.
BENCHMARK 5 – ENCOUNTERS WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES
Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
BENCHMARK 6 – EXPERIENCES OF WORKPLACES
Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
BENCHMARK 7 – ENCOUNTERS WITH FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION
All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
BENCHMARK 8 – PERSONAL GUIDANCE
Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.
