Careers Education and IAG

A programme of Impartial Advice and Guidance (IAG) is developed as students progress through the school, especially from Year 9 onwards as students make decisions about what Key Stage 4 options to take, thereby starting the process of firming up on their areas of interest and possible future education, training and career paths.

Students receive excellent impartial advice, information and careers guidance throughout their time at the school  –  OFSTED 2014

Throughout their time at Beaumont we aim to help students to:

• identify their individual strengths and weaknesses,
• be aware of education, training, the world of work and career opportunities,
• be able to make informed choices about the opportunities available at each stage of transition,
• be aware of the flexible nature of career development at the present time.

In addition, we are committed to enabling our students to:

• find out about technical education qualifications and Apprenticeship 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, group discussions and taster events;
• understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

For students in Years 7 to 11 impartial advice and guidance is delivered as part of the PSHCEE / Life Skills programme and as discrete activities on Curriculum Enrichment Days. Outside speakers and contributors are invited whenever appropriate. In Years 12 and 13 careers guidance (including guidance for Higher Apprenticeships and university entrance) is delivered through the Tutorial programme and again on certain Curriculum Enrichment Days.

As part of their impartial advice and guidance students will

• go on a one-week work experience placement in the summer term of Year 10,
• be offered guidance in how to fill in application forms, write a C.V, prepare for interviews etc; and
• have a variety of careers lessons and enrichment activities where they will investigate different careers, training and education routes, learn how to action plan and make informed decisions.

Individual guidance interviews are available for all students in Years 8 to 13 upon request, but in addition, every student in Year 9 and Year 11 has a personal interview with a senior member of staff in order to help them clarify their thoughts about life post 16 and identify the appropriate option(s) to pursue, including Further Education and Apprenticeship pathways.

We have a well-equipped Careers Library within the main Library, where pupils have access to a wide range of information on courses in further and higher education and employment and training opportunities, and also to a number of useful software packages to help them investigate and make decisions about the options open to them. The Library has open access throughout the day, and the Library staff and Mr Cross – Careers Leader – are always happy to help with any queries.

Beaumont works closely with HCC Services for Young People to provide additional support, and many students benefit from discussing their options with the Services for Young People Personal Adviser for Beaumont Mrs Alison Curnow. Mrs Curnow visits the school on a weekly basis and offers students an impartial and confidential service to help them think about their options both in school and beyond, be it further education at a college, the Sixth Form, higher education, an Apprenticeship or Traineeship or employment.

Students are offered a one to one interview with Mrs Curnow, the majority being at key transition points e.g. Year 11, 12 or 13, but many students also see her for the first time in Year 8, 9 or 10. As well having as specific appointments, Mrs Curnow also offers a drop-in facility and is also available to give advice via email. Appointments with or contact details for Mrs Curnow can be requested from Mrs Rickman via the School Reception. Further information about Services for Young People is available on their website which can be accessed here.

If students want advice during the holidays, Services for Young People offers drop in afternoons (on week days) at their office in St Albans, located in Catherine Street.  For location and contact details, click here.

All Year 10 students complete a one week Work Experience placement, and some older students also have the opportunity to participate in targeted work experience.

Beaumont is fully committed to ensuring that all students are made fully aware of the choices post 16. To this end, at the Year 11 Moving On  parent and student information evening, information about Further Education and Apprenticeships is provided by representatives from these sectors to all those attending, as well as guidance on entering the Sixth Form.  In addition, the Year 11 Moving On Curriculum Enrichment Day features a Careers Fair at which local and national providers of employment, training and Apprenticeships are present, alongside representatives from both Further and Higher Education.

Any education or training provider wishing to participate in this event or requesting the opportunity to talk to students in Years 8-13 about approved technical qualifications or Apprenticeships should contact the school’s Careers Leader, Mr C Cross (Assistant Headteacher), via the school Reception or this website. The latest version of the Provider Access Policy can be viewed here. The programme of Careers Education, Enterprise and Work-Related skills undertaken in a typical school year can be found as an annexe to the Beaumont CEIAG policy which can be viewed here.

Impartial Advice & Guidance (IAG)

The world of careers and impartial advice and guidance changes rapidly so for the latest information, please visit the Beaumont Careers blog:

http://careersatbeaumontschool.blogspot.co.uk/

The school’s Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) policy, which includes details of the curriculum provision, can be downloaded here.

Parents/carers and students may also wish to contact the The National Careers Service

National Careers Service

Click here for more information.

Click here to visit the website.

Click here for a Parent’s guide to study pathways.

Careers telephone advice

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has launched a telephone careers helpline for students as part of the National Careers Service. Support is available from trained advisers who will talk through issues, offering confidential advice and practical help. Advisers are available from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week, telephone 0800 100 900, or for text messages on 0776 641 3219.  There is also a ‘chat on-line’ facility.

YC Hertfordshire offers telephone advice as well. Click here for a copy of their flyer.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine working for an employer (including a salary, employee benefits, &c) and ongoing education and training.  There are entry points at 16+ and 18+ resulting in different levels of qualification up to Degree level.

You can download a general guide to Apprenticeships here.

You can download a quick guide to Higher and Degree here.

For more detailed information about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, you can view or download a booklet, produced by Which Uni, here.

You can search the UCAS listings of currently offered Apprenticeships here.

Copies of these documents are available from the school Careers Library.

Labour Market Information (LMI)

Knowing the trends in employment in your local area (Labour Market Information) is important for planning your career. The “Careerometer” below, draws upon up-to-date data from ‘LMI for All’.