Careers Programme at Ashley High School
At Ashley High School we place a great emphasis on our students having a careers programme in place that ensures that they are well equipped for the future and have the information needed to make realistic and informed decisions about further education, training and employment. This starts as soon as they arrive at school in Year 7 and builds significantly through Year 8 to Year 14. We make every effort to support all of our students into a positive destination that utilises their skills and interests. We do this through a rigorous careers programme with the involvement of local employers.
The careers programme is evaluated at the end of each academic year, gaining feedback from all stakeholders. The Careers Leader also completes termly Compass Reports to measure progress towards the Gatsby benchmarks. Student destinations are also used to measure the impact of the careers programme.
Ashley High School is nationally accredited by the Quality in Careers Standard as fully meeting all the accreditation criteria incorporating the Gatsby Benchmark. Click here for more information.
Independent Careers Guidance
Students can access individual careers guidance from the school careers adviser. All students from Year 9 upwards will have the opportunity for a guidance interview before their annual review. The advice given is presented in an impartial manner, showing no bias or favouritism towards a particular institution, education or work option. The careers reports include information on the range of education and training options, including apprenticeships and supported internships. The guidance given promotes the best interests of the students to whom it is given.
Career Activities by Year Group
Year 7 and 8
Year 7 and 8 is all about developing self-awareness and discovering the types of careers that are out there in the big wide world;
- Introduction to Careers – career anagrams to raise awareness of different jobs and discussion on the different jobs roles in our school.
- Employer Talks
- Introduction to the Careers Adviser and the A-Z of Careers
- Timeline of key events in our life and identifying skills and qualities
Year 9
- Considering Options – introduction to the careers websites and linking subjects to careers
- Local labour market information. ‘What Makes a good…..’
- Employer Talk
- Individual guidance interviews.
Year 10
- Raising aspirations and stereotyping
- Employer Talk
- ‘What Makes You Tick?’ personality test and job values
- Individual guidance interviews.
Year 11
- Decision Making
- Self-Awareness recap
- Opportunity Awareness – apprenticeships, traineeships, supported internships and further education
- CV Writing/updating and covering letters
- Application forms and where to look for jobs
- Interview Preparation including a mock interview with local employers
- Financial Support for students
- Careers Day, with visits from local employers, colleges and training providers.
- Employer talk and visit
- Visits to local employment environments
- College Taster Day
- Individual guidance interviews
- Evaluation.
Year 12-14
All students work towards a qualification in Employability at Entry Level 3 upwards which focuses on their employability skills and career planning. Students also complete the activities below to enhance their learning.
- Vocational Tasters and visits to different working environments to compare and contrast (construction workshops, modern busy offices, animal care, horticulture and engineering)
- Sessions with Job Centre Plus around applying for jobs, interview preparation and local labour market information
- Visits to local colleges and training providers
- Apprenticeship Workshop.
- Individual work placements linked to a student’s vocational interests.
- Individual guidance interviews
- Regular Career Planning updates.
If you have any questions or require further information or support around career opportunities please contact Vicki Banks (Careers Lead) at school.
