Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

The Careers Department at Bishop Ramsey provides information, advice and guidance to students on a wide range of issues that help them build the skills they will need for working life. 

The world of work has undergone significant changes in recent years and continues to do so and it is therefore even more important that we equip our students with the necessary skills for them to make decisions about their future, to know how and where to access information and to link subject areas and qualifications with possible career choices. 

Bishop Ramsey is committed to meeting the Gatsby benchmarks as set out in 'Careers strategy: making the most of everyone's skills and talents' (DfE Publication Dec 2017) 

All students in Years 7-13 are entitled to:

• Access to a planned careers programme relevant to their year group
• Access to a qualified, impartial and independent careers adviser for personalised guidance
• Access information about the world of work and labour market
• Access information and guidance about higher education, training and employment opportunities
• Develop personal and enterprise skills to improve their employability
• Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point. 
• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events.
• Be informed about how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
• Access to a curriculum rich in information about careers and the world of work.
• Access a programme of CEIAG which challenges stereotypes and discrimination, and promotes equality and diversity in training and in the workplace. 

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) 

CEIAG is available to all students, to enable them to make decisions about their education and careers choices. An overview of the service that is offered at Bishop Ramsey School can be seen below. 

Career Action Plans and Support 

All students in Years 11, 12 and 13 are entitled to a careers interview with our Independent Careers Advisor who is in school each week to provide one-to-one and group guidance interviews for our students. Students who attend a one-to-one session are provided with a written action plan to help them realise their goal, to take home and share with their parents/carers so that they can assist their child in carrying out these actions. Parents and carers of students from Year 11 are also invited to attend the one-to-one interviews. 

An informal drop-in facility is also available for students from Years 12 and 13 during Friday mornings. 

Careers Resources 

We have a full range of careers resources in our School Library and Sixth Form Study Room. We also have access to software that will allow students of all ages access up-to- date careers information. Elements of the Careers curriculum are covered in many subject areas as well as in PSHCE. 

All students also have access to the “Bishop Ramsey Careers Information” Facebook page. In addition to the Student Portal, this provides students with the most up-to-date careers information and opportunities. 

There is also a careers area in Student Services that students can visit with prior arrangement. 

The school uses UniFrog extensively to support careers information and the exploration of further career routes and study at various levels.
 

Careers Fair 

We host a Careers Fair for all students (plus parents/carers) from Years 7 to 13. This is usually held every 2 years and involves over 40 employers and educators from both regional and national organisations offering advice and information on apprenticeships, work, Higher and Further Education and Gap Years. The Fair also includes presentations and master-classes from a wide variety of sectors.
 

Alumni 

Bishop Ramsey is working with 'Future First' to develop our alumni network. If you are interested in joining our network and returning to Bishop Ramsey to speak to current students, please concat the School Office to find out more. 
 

Delivery & Content of Programmes 

Students in all year groups receive pastoral and tutorial support and support during PSHCE lessons. 

A summary of the specific Curriculum provision for CEIAG is outlined below: 

Year 7 

In Year 7 students work on employability skills such as teamwork and leadership and starting to look at CVs. 

Year 8 

In Year 8 students start to explore different careers in relation to the subjects which they study and the career and occupations they relate to in the world of work.  

Year 9 

Year 9 students continue to build on CEIAG through more developed employability skills such as resilience, communication and leadership which they use and develop in their PSHCE lessons. They also have lessons designed to help them with their options choices. 

Year 10 

All Year 10 students take part in a week of work experience at the start of the summer term. They also attend a one day enrichment event towards the end of the school year. This event is specifically aimed at preparation for applying for jobs and college placements plus interview preparation and techniques. This includes a mock interview and debriefing session with contacts from local industry and the wider school community. Students prepare for this by writing CVs and letters of application in their PSHCE lessons. 

Work Experience 

All students in Year 10 complete one week of work experience, to develop a greater understanding of the world of work and identify the links between the skills used and developed in school, and those necessary in the workplace. Bishop Ramsey School has an excellent reputation among local employers for the high level of maturity and commitment of our students on work experience. 

Year 11 

In Year 11, students are prepared for making successful applications to post-16 opportunities. All students in Year 11 complete a questionnaire concerning their interests and possible career / further education pathway. This data is then used to target students for group interviews and subject information sessions with our independent careers advisor. 

In January / February students have an interview with a senior member of school staff to help them prepare for options post-16. They have a number of talks to help them prepare for their post-16 choices. 

Year 12 and 13 

Careers guidance is supported through PSHCE lessons and the work of the Sixth Form team. Research skills, sources of information, application procedures and interview skills are practised and reinforced. Students are given the chance to have a further careers interview with our Independent Careers Advisor and there is an opportunity to visit Higher Education fairs. We also provide a number of speakers to help them navigate through the UCAS process and to make them aware of other opportunities such as apprenticeships. 

Student Entitlement 

Students at Bishop Ramsey School are entitled to: 

• individual and impartial careers guidance from a suitably qualified professional  

• be treated with respect 

• the opportunity to gain the skills needed to prosper in their chosen career 

• information about all the options open to trhem at 16 and 18 years of age 

• be referred for extra support if needed and to other agencies where appropriate. 

N.B. Further information about Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at Bishop Ramsey can be found here.