Careers

Welcome to the Careers information and work experience page. We recognise the importance of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and ensure that throughout the year, students have opportunities to engage positively with their futures, both in terms of increasing expectations and exploring the best routes into the careers that interest them.  In line with the Department for Education guidance, we have a coordinated programme of careers support designed around the Gatsby Benchmarks and CDI Framework to offer a coherent programme embedded within school structures.

Careers at King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls

The Careers Guidance programme at King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls will help students plan and manage their future pathways effectively, ensuring progression which is ambitious and aspirational. It will promote equality of opportunity, embrace diversity and challenge stereotyping. We will support students in making well-informed decisions by providing access to differentiated, impartial and independent information and guidance about the range of options (including academic, vocational, apprenticeships) that are most likely to help them to achieve their ambitions.

Careers Education has never been as important as it is currently. With a changing landscape of education, training and employment it is vital that young people are offered the highest quality education, advice, information and guidance to support and assist them in making choices and managing transitions. By helping students with decisions at crucial stages, informing them of all their options and introducing them to the world of work, we aim to prepare them for the world of work whichever pathway they choose.

Our Careers Education and Guidance programme will enable students to:

• receive advice, information and guidance which is in their best interest,
• develop a broad understanding of the world of work and an ability to respond to changing opportunities,
• make best use of the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) both independently and with support,
• develop essential careers skills promoted through our Teaching and Learning ethos including creativity, perseverance, resilience, good self-presentation and adaptability.
• manage transitions in their lives such as GCSE and A-Level options as well as from school to university or work.
• raise their aspirations, broaden their horizons and challenge stereotyped thinking about what they and others can achieve within our society.
• engage in opportunities to work in partnership with employers, higher education providers and others to provide opportunities to inspire students through real-life contact with the world of work
• develop enterprise and employability skills.
• and encourage students to see career development as a life-long process.

Our students can expect the career development journey at King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls to include:

• finding information about their careers programme on the school website,
• accessing Labour Market Information by the age of 14 to support their study,
• information about how important Science and Maths are in leading to different rewarding STEM careers,
• engaging in at least two meaningful encounters by the age of 16 with Sixth Form, Further Education and apprenticeship providers,
• engaging in two careers guidance interviews by the age of 18,
• engaging in meaningful encounters with employers and employees,
• engaging in meaningful work experience opportunities,
• engaging in visits to universities,
• an invitation to join the school’s alumni network,
• and access to records on their individual careers related activities.

Resources

The budget for Careers Education and Guidance is determined annually and every endeavour is made to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to meet student needs.

The school has two careers libraries – one in the Main Library with a wide range of relevant and up-to-date resources in a range of media, and one in the Sixth Form area containing university prospectuses and information on other routes such as Higher Apprenticeships. A weekly Careers Bulletin is sent to both students and parents to share Labour Market Information and to signpost upcoming events and opportunities.

Another important source of information is the school’s careers website which is maintained by the school’s Careers Leader. This section of the website contains information, resource downloads, links and access to key pieces of software subscribed to by the school. Careers information is displayed on information boards in the main school and the Sixth Form.

Careers Programme

Careers education is primarily delivered through the school’s PSHCE programme. The School’s PSCHE programme has been developed in line with the Careers Development Institute’s 17 learning objectives which are grouped under three main headings:

• Developing yourself through careers, employability and enterprise education,
• Learning about careers and the world of work,
•  Developing your career management, employability and enterprise skills.

Please see the school PSCHE/RSE policy for further information.

Careers Education is also delivered discreetly through curriculum lessons, tutor time and off timetable sessions such as activity days. Work Related Learning in the form of optional work experience takes place in Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 together with careers interviews with an independent advisor and a Careers Fair for Years 9, 11 and 12.

Our careers programme outlines all of the opportunities available to each year group.

Measuring Impact

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is a member of Birmingham Careers Hub. We are supported by an Enterprise Coordinator and Enterprise Advisor; their role is to support the development of in-school provision and to act as a critical friend.

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls uses ‘Compass +’, an online self-evaluation tool, to assess how our careers support compares against the Gatsby benchmarks and the national average. Schools should baseline themselves using this tool, consider the opportunities to improve their careers programme based on their confidential results, and track their progress against the Benchmarks over time. This information is shared with the Careers and Enterprise Company, the Birmingham Careers Hub, SLT and the Welfare Committee of the Governing Body.

Students’ opinions are sought via student voice group interviews, the School Council and via online surveys following a series of careers interviews or events. Parental views are sought at Pupil Consultation Evenings and at the annual Careers Fair. A report is submitted to the senior leadership and governors.

Destination measures are analysed closely and used to ensure that the school is providing the right advice and guidance to head students in the right directions so that they are successful.

Provider Access

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls believes in giving FE, HE and training providers the opportunity to talk to students at the school.  

Provider Access Policy

Careers Policy

To read the full Careers Policy please use the following link: KEVIHS Careers Policy