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 Maria Brader M.Brader@harrisgarrard.org.uk.
Read our latest news stories about careers. Download our higher education booklet below.
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 the 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 Alistair Whibley on 020 8320 4800 or a.whibley@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
- tutor time programme
- careers fairs
- Character 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
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).
Our careers programme - a summary
Below is a summary of our careers programme for all years. The programme will be updated during the year. If you require further information on our programmes, please contact Alistair Whibley on 020 8320 4800 or a.whibley@harrisgarrard.org.uk.
|
When? |
Activity |
Type of Activity |
Provider Access |
|
All year |
Assembly Programme – ALL YEARS Labour market trends Raising aspirations |
Assembly |
Internal (Careers Team) |
|
All year (Different dates for each Year group Bubble) |
Careers Fair – ALL YEARS An evening was put on for pupils to speak with external visitors to discuss career options. A range of employers and higher education providers attended |
Information Evening |
External Providers |
|
All year |
Tutor time programme – ALL YEARS As part of the delivered tutor time programme (taught by tutors during the week) students cover a variety of careers related key skills such as: Listening and Presenting Problem solving Teamwork Leadership Creativity How their curriculum links to their careers Employability |
Tutor time programme |
Internal (Careers Team)
|
|
All year |
Careers Champions & Ambassadors Subject specialist Careers Champion per subject area Career ambassadors |
Extra-curricular |
Internal (Careers Team, Staff Members, Student mbassadors) |
|
All Year |
Careers Interviews – YEAR 10, 11, 12, 13. Students identified as in need and/or students put forward by tutors have ‘early action planning’ careers meetings, setting targets for Key Stage 4 and beginning to think about work experience. |
Careers advisor interviews |
Federation Advisor |
|
All Year |
Personal Careers Guidance – ALL YEARS Every Monday /Tuesday break and lunch time pupils are able to visit the careers advisor as a drop in session, which has been very popular. |
Personal Guidance |
Federation Advisor |
|
All year |
Sixth Form Assembly Programme UCAS Employability skills The world of work Labour market trends Aspirations First Impressions |
Assembly |
Internal (Careers Team)
|
|
All year |
Tutor time programme – Sixth Form The sixth form delivered tutor time programme (taught by tutors during the week) covers a variety of careers related themes such as: Study skills & independent learning UCAS and personal statement writing Personal finance Employability skills Social media cultivation and technological literacy |
Tutor time programme |
Internal (Careers Team)
|
|
Oct 2020 |
Character Day – YEAR 7 Workshops were ran on rotation so that pupils covered a variety of topics/skills, such as: Interview skills Internships Types of work you can do. |
Thematic Day |
Internal (Careers Team)
|
|
Jan 2021 |
Employability Workshops Year 12 students are attending a day of workshops called a WOW day. The workshops are: ‘Apprenticeships’ delivered by Cap Gemini ‘Raising your Digital Profile’ – Department of Work and Pensions ‘Interview Skills’ – Delivered by Pathway ‘Balancing studying while working’ delivered by Pearson |
Employability Workshops |
External |
|
Feb 2021
|
Career advisor tutor time session and Looking ahead forms – YEAR 11 Each year 11 tutor group filled out a looking ahead form which gathers data on intended destinations and interest in potential career pathways, allowing the Careers team to target further interventions. The intention is to engage tutors with the career aspirations of their tutees and to determine intended destinations. Once fully completed survey results are in we can plan |
Tutor Time |
Tutors |
|
March 2021 |
Character Day – Year 7-13 Workshops run on rotation so that pupils covered a variety of topics/skills, such as: Interview skills Apprenticeships CV writing Life Skills Entrepreneurship |
Thematic Day |
Internal and External |
|
April 2021 |
Federation Careers Fair Sixth Form attend a large careers fair at Harris Crystal Palace to meet a wide variety of employers, Further and Higher education providers. |
Careers Fair |
Harris Crystal Palace |
|
Summer Term 2021 |
University Visits –Sixth form All year 12 students must visit at least one university during the summer term, and a variety of visits are facilitated by the sixth form team. Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, tours may have to take place virtually. |
University Visits |
Internal (Careers Team)
|
|
July 2021 |
Careers enhancement week All year 12 students are required to complete 1 week of Meaningful work experience or Careers-related Events and Workshops at the end of Year 12. They are supported by the Academy in finding and completing this. |
Work Experience |
Internal (Careers Team)
|
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 2020-21
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 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%
