Careers Advice and Guidance

– The main focus of this year is to ensure pupils settle into Vale of York Academy.
– Pupils are introduced to future careers related to subject areas and are introduced to resources for career research. Such as designated careers lessons in World Views and Modern Issues.
– Pupils are encouraged to start to think about their strengths and interests and to match these with potential careers.
– All pupils across Years 7-11 are informed of resources to research STEM careers and encouraged to find out about these.
– All pupils in Years 7 – 11 are included in the distribution of resources, activities, information and events during key weeks throughout the year including National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week. Pupils are encouraged to engage with these opportunities and activities to widen their knowledge and future aspirations of the different options and careers available.
– All pupils in Years 7-10 have access to a careers fair in the summer term, the fair includes a range of employers from both the public and private sector. This allows pupils to engage with jobs of interest and converse with external agencies.

– The main focus of this year is to develop careers investigation skills and to raise awareness of the variety of different routes into employment.
– Introduce pupils to career related key terms.
– Introduce the concept of transferable skills and the importance of developing employability skills.
– Develop job comparison research looking at skills needed, income, qualifications, and employment conditions.
– All pupils across Years 7-11 are informed of resources to research STEM careers and encouraged to find out about these.
– Gender stereotyping – to recognise stereotypical views; understand how job stereotyping might affect, own career choice.
– All pupils in Years 7 – 11 are included in the distribution of resources, activities, information and events during key weeks throughout the year including National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week. Pupils are encouraged to engage with these opportunities and activities to widen their knowledge and future aspirations of the different options and careers available.
– All pupils in Years 7-10 have access to a careers fair in the summer term, the fair includes a range of employers from both the public and private sector. This allows pupils to engage with jobs of interest and converse with external agencies.
– The “Apprentice” Challenge – team building activity sessions. Pupils work in teams to research employability skills, branding, financial skills and presentation skills. This develops team working skills, confidence as well as gaining an insight into business/financial careers.
– Pupils are encouraged to use the careers resources in more detail to explore different career areas and match careers to their strengths and interests.

– The main focus this year is to support pupils in choosing their KS4 GCSE Options.
– Pupils will be supported to understand the options choices procedure at Vale of York Academy; find out about which GCSEs they may need for different future careers; find out about what types of careers relate to subjects they are interested in.
– Designated options evenings will be held throughout the curriculum year.
– Pupils will be encouraged to find out more about STEM careers. All pupils across Years 7-11 are informed of resources to research STEM careers and encouraged to find out about these.
– All pupils in Years 7 – 11 are included in the distribution of resources, activities, information and events during key weeks throughout the year including National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week. Pupils are encouraged to engage with these activities and opportunities to widen their knowledge and future aspirations of the different options and careers available.
– All pupils in Years 7-10 have access to a careers fair in the summer term, the fair includes a range of employers from both the public and private sector. This allows pupils to engage with jobs of interest and converse with external agencies.
– Develop career research skills and decision making skills.
– Careers quizzes to assess personality, skills, interest and strengths and match to potential careers.
– The “Tyre” Challenge – team building activity sessions. Pupils work in teams to create a, hypothetical, renewable product using old tyres. They need to think about some products that could be made using old rubber, think of marketing plans, financial plans and be able to deliver presentation to staff members. This develops team working skills, confidence as well as gaining an insight into business/financial careers. Pupils identified as potentially NEET, vulnerable or at risk of disengaging, are identified for early intervention, targeted and prioritised when arranging 1:2:1 careers interviews.

– The main focus of this year is on preparing for the world of work.
– All pupils will take part in a 1 week work experience placement with an employer in the summer term.
– Pupils will receive support to prepare for work experience including how to look for a placement; how to contact employers; positives of work experience; skills employers’ look for; health & safety in the workplace.
– Work experience reflection and recording post placement.
– Creating a CV, covering letter and mock application for a job.
– Pupils are informed of any relevant in person and/or virtual work experience opportunities; careers fairs; apprenticeship and employer fairs; University & HE fairs and encouraged to apply/attend to speak to representative’s first-hand about the opportunities/courses they offer.
– Pupils will be encouraged to find out more about STEM careers. All pupils across Years 7-11 are informed of resources to research STEM careers and encouraged to find out about these.
– All pupils in Years 7 – 11 are included in the distribution of resources, activities, information and events during key weeks throughout the year including National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week. Pupils are encouraged to engage with these activities and opportunities to widen their knowledge and future aspirations of the different options and careers available.
– All pupils in Years 7-10 have access to a careers fair in the summer term, the fair includes a range of employers from both the public and private sector. This allows pupils to engage with jobs of interest and converse with external agencies.
– The Stock Market Challenge – stock market simulation activity. Pupils work in teams to buy and sell shares/currencies just as a city trader would. They need to buy at a low price and sell at high price to maximise the value of their portfolio developing team working, money and confidence skills, as well as gaining an insight into business/financial careers.
– Learning about where to find job opportunities.
– Pupils are encouraged to use the careers resources in more detail to explore different career areas and Post 16 Options.
– Pupils identified as potentially NEET, vulnerable or at risk of disengaging, are identified for early intervention, targeted and prioritised when arranging 1:2:1 careers interviews.

– The main focus of this year is on Post 16 options and applications.
– Pupils are made aware of all the options available to them Post 16 including:
– Gaining apprenticeships, traineeships, T Levels.
– Moving onto another Sixth Form/College course
– Exploring the different types and levels of courses including A levels, T Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships/traineeships and the advantages/disadvantages of each of these.
– Choosing what to do next – what is important to individual pupils when deciding what to do after year 11.
– Decision making – influences on my decision, steps to making a decision.
– Support to make Post 16 applications.
– Job investigation including local job market information and where to find vacancies.
– Learning about where to find volunteering opportunities.
– Pupils are encouraged to use the careers resources in more detail to explore different career areas and Post 16 Options. These are posted on the designated Year 11 Google Classroom page.
– All pupils in Years 7 – 11 are included in the distribution of resources, activities, information and events during key weeks throughout the year including National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week. Pupils are encouraged to engage with these activities and opportunities to widen their knowledge and future aspirations of the different options and careers available.
– Pupils are informed of any relevant in person and/or virtual work experience opportunities; careers fairs; apprenticeship and employer fairs; University & HE fairs and encouraged to apply/attend to speak to representative’s first-hand about the opportunities/courses they offer.
– Pupils are informed of, and encouraged to attend, other local Post 16 provider Taster Days and Open Evenings.
– Post 16 education providers day – colleges and sixth forms across the city present to pupils at Vale of York academy to ensure that they are given as much information on their next steps as possible.
– Pupils are encouraged to use the careers resources and careers quizzes in more detail to explore different career areas, careers matched to their skills and interests, and Post 16 Options.
– Labour Market Information (LMI) – exploring different careers; qualifications needed; average salary; live vacancies; any apprenticeships available in that career area; jobs of the future; job prospects in the local York/North Yorkshire areas.
– Lunchtime employer “Drop-In’s” – display stands and informal discussion.
– All pupils will be provided with the opportunity for a personal careers interview with a qualified external careers adviser.
– Pupils identified as potentially NEET, vulnerable or at risk of disengaging, are identified for early intervention, targeted and prioritised when arranging 1:2:1 careers interviews.