Careers
“Careers education is about inspiration and aspiration as much as advice.”
At Harris Garrard Academy we believe a good quality Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme increases the aspirations and achievement of every student and supports our core vision, “Learning Changes Lives”.
At an early age, children are exposed to careers and work-related information that develops their sense of enquiry not only about careers and higher/further education but also about their individual skills and aptitudes.
Our Careers Lead is Kimberley Ferran k.ferran@harrisgarrard.org.uk
Read our latest news stories about careers.
Click HERE to download our Careers Policy 2021-22
Click HERE to download our Provider Access Policy 2021-22
Click HERE to download our Careers Delivery Plan 2021-22
Click HERE to download our higher education booklet 2021-22
Our careers vision
The vision of our careers team is that students will leave our academy with the drive and ambition to accomplish their chosen career pathway, and that they will become ambitious, successful, caring citizens equipped with the confidence and skills capable of making decisions in any given situation.
How can our parents/carers support our careers programme?
We recognise that parents/carers come from many different work backgrounds and can also contribute to helping our students make informed decisions. Therefore, if you are able to offer some time to deliver an occupational talk, host a stand at our annual careers fair, or are able to take a student for a work experience placement we would eagerly welcome you contacting James Case on 020 8320 4800 or j.case@harrisgarrard.org.uk.
How do we prepare students for the future?
Harris Garrard Academy understands that all students need to prepare themselves for progression through learning and education into adulthood. We aim to prepare students for life after school by providing information on the ever-changing future occupations and progression routes to sixth form, college, university or work/apprenticeships.
We are committed to providing a varied programme of activities for all students from Year 7 to Year 13 and beyond. Various careers-related opportunities are provided via a number of different methods such as:
- assemblies
- careers focused themes each half-term
- careers fairs
- Character & Mindfulness Days
- practise careers interviews
- career workshops
- trips to employers and universities (actual or virtual)
- and visiting speakers (including virtual talks).
The academy utilises the expertise of the Harris Federation Careers Advisor who supports students on a regular basis. Students also have the opportunity to book a personal appointment with the Harris Federation Careers Advisor by emailing gnade.gahoua@harrisfederation.org.uk. These sessions can be 1-2-1 or completed in a group.
We offer particular support for SEND students. The aim is to provide activities and events that meet the needs of the individual students. We offer independent and impartial careers guidance to support career and option choices, raising the aspirations of individual students and equipping them with the necessary skills, attitudes, knowledge and understanding.
Useful careers websites
Harris Careers Education - aims to advise, support and inspire you, making sure that you get to where you want to be.
Start in Bexley - brings together the best information and inspiration about careers and study in the local area and beyond.
Unifrog.org - the complete destinations platform.
BBC Bitesize careers - Whether you’re deciding what to study, taking your exams, planning a career, or just curious, this site explains the world of work, with advice from people who've found the right path for them.
icould.com - real stories to inspire your career.
skillsbuilder.org - how to build essential skills at every stage of your life.
The Gatsby benchmarks
The Gatsby benchmarks are at the heart of the careers programme. These are eight benchmarks covering different areas of quality career curriculum (see below).
Evaluation of the careers programme, student voice and pupil impact
All of our events are evaluated by pupils in some way, either verbally or through a formal evaluation procedure. For example, after our careers fair in February 2019, pupils were given an evaluation form to complete where they could provide feedback on the evening. This data was then collated and analysed so that we can improve next year’s event. Student voice is extremely important to us in the academy and all suggestions are considered as ways to improve the pupils experience.
85% of pupils that attended our careers fair in February 2019 agreed that the event helped them in choosing their future career, and 97% of pupils would recommend the event to younger pupils for next year. Next year pupils would like to have more of the interactive workshops, as well as more leaflets for them to take away.
Careers booklets will be given to all Year 11 pupils as a method of tracking their career progression throughout their time at the academy. All one-to-one interviews with our Level 7 trained Careers Advisor are logged and tracked, as well as their destinations data being kept up to date.
Year 11 higher education booklet 2021-22
Destinations
The information, advice and guidance we give our students helps them with the transition from Year 11 to Post 16.
Destinations data for our 2020/21 cohort are given below.
Year 11 cohort - 2021 leavers
- Staying in education or training 93%
- Apprenticeship 2.8%
- Data not yet collected 2.8%
- NEET 1.4%
Year 13 cohort - 2021 leavers
- Employment 7.5%
- Staying in education or training 87.5%
- FSM Staying in education or training 100%
- SEN Staying in education or training 80%
- Apprenticeship 0%
- NEET 5%
Destinations data for our 2019/20 cohort are given below.
Year 11 cohort - 2020 leavers
- Staying in education or training 89.9%
- Apprenticeship 2.1%
- Activity not captured in the data 6.4%
- NEET 1.4%
Year 13 cohort - 2020 leavers
- Employment 0%
- Staying in education or training 85.7%
- FSM Staying in education or training 100%
- SEN Staying in education or training 87.5%
- Apprenticeship 7.1%
- NEET 14.3%
Provider Access Policy/Baker clause
This policy statement sets out our arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the Academy from Year 8 through to Year 13, for the purpose of giving them information on a wide range of education and training providers both academic and vocational. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
In line with the Baker clause, our academy gives students access to other FE colleges and training providers from Years 8- 13 to discuss non-academic routes that are available; this includes main Federation events such as Next Steps, where colleges and training providers are encouraged to attend, as well as academy initiatives guided by the careers link and the careers adviser.
In addition to this, the dedicated Harris Careers website outlines all of the Post 16 options. Students also have individual and guided access to Unifrog from Year 7 which offers additional impartial information. This outlines all educational routes that they may wish to consider.
