Careers

Introduction

At Burnt Mill Academy we believe that every student should have every opportunity to see how their studies will relate to the world of work. Our objective has been and will always be, to help all students be aware of the many opportunities that are available and how their studies will help them to succeed in life.

This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the providers’ education or training offers. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Alaric Cook - Head of Careers

Employers & Parents/Carers

If you would like to contribute to our careers programme, please contact Alaric Cook at cooka@burntmill.essex.sch.uk 

Pupil entitlement

 All pupils in years 11-16 are entitled to:

• find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point; in accordance with the requirements set out in the ‘Baker Clause’ 2018
• hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
• understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

 

Management of provider access requests

We welcome requests from local or national providers to inform and advise our year 8 to year 11 students about their options for vocational and technical education routes. In the first instance, please complete a contact form for the attention of our Careers Lead Mr A Cook.

Opportunities for access

A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers.

Management of this policy

Being part of an academy helps us to develop this strategy in a very meaningful way.

• We prepare our students from the very beginning and focus on the key interpersonal skills needed to succeed, which many students from under privileged areas lack when they leave secondary schools.
• We place our students on a fast track to develop the essential skill set to tackle the wonderful variety of careers around us.
• Students are given unique opportunities across the five years, made aware of the incredible array of career pathways, given the chance to meet and hear from, individuals and organisations first hand and head out on trips to a whole range of different career events and places of work, which open their minds to the wonderful opportunities out there.
• We have managed to develop some outstanding links across the trust with some of the most successful businesses across the world and regularly have representatives from some of the largest employers spend time with students in the school, as well as having older students go out on work experience opportunities.
• We are constantly looking out for ways to improve further and really provide the best for our students
• The Burnt Mill Academy Trust has appointed a Director of Careers to develop a career development program based on the Gatsby Benchmarks as laid out in the new guidance from DFE published in December 2017 and supported by The Careers and Enterprise Company, part of the London Enterprise Advisor network in partnership with the GLA, LEAP and the Mayors fund for London.

Any student or parent/carer at Burnt Mill Academy can book a meeting with our Careers Lead Mr A Cook by calling the school on 01279 300555.

Our Commitment from September 2018 and beyond:

We will ensure a stable and well run careers program:

1.  Every pupil will have access to good quality informaton about future study options and labour market opportunities.

2.  We will address the need of every pupil.

3.  We ensure all teachers link curriculum learning to careers.

4.  We will ensure all students have encourters with employers

5.  Every pupil will have firsthand experience of a workplacement environment.

6.  All students will have an understanding of the full range of opportunities in higher education.

7.  All students will have access to personal career guidance.

Career days by Year Group

A program of activities both within and outside school premises will be devised and implemented, which will combine many of the things the school is already doing, but enhance it to a whole new level by 2020. Examples of what is planned are outlined below.

Year 7 & 8 – Public speaking, presentation and team building workshops. With the aim to increase self confidence levels and introduce work related skills into school life.

Year 9 & 10 – Building upon the work in Year 7 & 8, pupils will be given a careers insight visit to a business to experience how school relates to the world of work. Further workshops will develop management skills in preparation for GCSE study, while enhancing the skills introduced in the Year 7 & 8 workshops.

Year 11 – The focus will be ensuring successful applications for post 16 study and work, through workshops focusing on successful CV and letters of application. Each pupil will have the opportunity to learn from a mock interview from a local business or educational provider. Assemblies will include presentations from a range of post 16 providers.  There are also opportunities to have a week’s work experience at the end of their GCSE exams in Y10.

All pupils have the opportunity to attend career lunch presentations from a range of professionals

Gatsby Benchmark Summary - Click Link

BMA Plan Your Future Guide - Click Link