Our names are Lindsey and Karen and we are the Careers Advisers employed by C+K Careers working in Lightcliffe Academy. We work with students in all year groups providing career-related, impartial information, advice and guidance. We can help students to think about career plans, subject choices, options after Year11 and also signpost students to support services. We are based in the Careers Room (F2 23). Our email address is careers@lightcliffeacademy.co.uk
or our phone number is 01422 201028.
Gatsby Benchmarks
As part of the careers strategy the Gatsby benchmarks enables our academy to ensure all students receive a high quality programme of careers.
- A Stable Careers programme: Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers
- Learning from career and labour market information: Every student and their parents, should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make use of the best information
- Addressing the needs of each student: Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout
- Linking curriculum learning to careers: All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.
- Encounters with employers and employees: Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
- Experience of workplaces: Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
- Encounters with further and higher education: All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in school, colleges universities and in the workplace.
- Personal Guidance: Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.
All students will work towards the above Gatsby benchmarks framework which enables them to:
- Develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their abilities and affinities
- Gain a greater knowledge of the range of opportunities open to them
- Take part in work related activities in and out of the academy
- Understand the Labour Market and the requirements and expectations of employers
- Learn to make decisions wisely about their future
- Be fully prepared to manage change and be fully supported through key transition periods
- Learn how to improve their own employability: how to find work, how to get work and how to progress their careers
Our careers programme is measured and evaluated in a number of ways. We evaluate students’ knowledge and awareness through paper and online feedback. This is usually done before and after a workshop. The careers programme as a whole is evaluated through C+K careers Service, we utilise the compass tool and provision mapping to support the Gatsby benchmark framework. This is reviewed every year.
All students can meet with our C+K careers Adviser for individual advice about options, future choices, Post 16 pathways and applications, CV clinic, interview preparation, apprenticeship applications, and any other guidance they need.
Students have access to a range of careers support delivered through a variety of ways. Students can request a guidance appointment at any time throughout their academic life and students will be offered support at key transition points such as year 9 options, year 11 progression planning and Post 16 applications for those want to progress on to further education. Parents are able to attend appointments and careers guidance will be at parent evenings to provide any further careers support.
Targeted support for vulnerable and disadvantaged students
The academy’s careers leader works closely using data to identify students who are in need of targeted support or who are at risk of not participating in further studies after year 11, becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training). Targeted students receive additional support on career options, pathways (Apprenticeships, College etc.) and application help. Students in alternative provision also receive targeted support from the careers leader and additional support with interviews etc.
SEND Student sSupport
SEND students are supported to develop the skills and experience, and achieve the qualifications they need, to succeed in their careers. The academy seeks to understand the interests, strengths and motivations of students and use this to support students onto a pathway that supports their development and progression.
Independent and impartial advice for young people with SEN and disabilities includes all of the education, training and employment opportunities on offer, and signpost them onto study programmes that will support their transition into paid employment. This includes work skills, soft skills, work experience, traineeships, apprenticeships and qualifications that will enable students to apply for higher education where appropriate.
Parents & Carers
How to support your child through career choices?
Raising the Participation Age
RPA is a new measure that has been brought in by the Government. It means that all young people have to be in some form of learning or training until their 18th birthday.
What are the options available after Year 11?
- Stay in full-time education (e.g. school or college)
- Take up work-based learning (e.g. an apprenticeship or traineeship)
- Take up full-time work with additional part-time learning (at least 280 planned hours of education a year) which will result in an accredited qualification
- Combine self-employment with part-time learning, leading to an accredited qualification
- Volunteer (for 20+ hours) with the addition of part-time learning, leading to an accredited qualification
How to support your child?
- Encourage them to find out as much as they can about their options,
- Discuss with your teenager the options information they receive
- Help them to identify their interests and abilities
- Check the dates of options events and open evenings
- Encourage them to consider the consequences of their choices
- Support their decision
- Encourage them to make a backup plan
Careers Curriculum
The careers curriculum plans can be found within the Digital Resource Library, which is available outside of school by using foldr.lightcliffeacademy.co.uk
The above information will be reviewed for September 2023
Baker Clause Statement
As part of our commitment to informing students of the full range of learning and training pathways on offer to them, we are happy to consider requests from training, apprenticeship and vocational education providers to speak to our students.
Lightcliffe Academy proactively seeks to build on close working relationships with providers in order to invite them to attend our Ambition Weeks, school assemblies, employer and provider engagement events or to speak with students and parents on a one-to-one basis supporting post-16 choices.
In the first instance, requests by providers should be sent to the school’s Careers Lead, Ms L Conlon, lconlon@lightcliffeacademy.co.uk
