Careers Provision
The Government’s careers strategy sets out a long-term plan to build a world class careers system that will help young people choose the career that is right for them whilst making the most of their skills and talents.
The latest statutory guidance published by the Department for Education (DfE) in January 2023 aims to ensure “that all young people in secondary school get a programme of advice and guidance that is stable, structured and delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience.” To achieve this aim, every school is expected to use the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Benchmarks to develop and improve their careers provision. The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that define the best careers provision in secondary schools.
Blenheim's Careers Education Information and Advice Policy and Provider Access Policy can be found by clicking below.
Detailed information about the Blenheim Careers Provision can be found below. The information on this page is subject to review in September 2024.
Careers Team
If you are a student, parent or an employer with a query about the careers programme, please contact a member of the Careers Team.
Mr P. Colomb, Assistant Headteacher, Curriculum Careers Lead
Mrs G. Eke, Careers Advisor
Mrs S. Buller, Careers Administration
Email Mrs Buller â
Contact telephone number: 01372 745333 Ext 2038
Blenheim Careers
Intent
Blenheim is committed to providing a planned programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), framed by the Gatsby Benchmarks, for all students in Years 7 to 13. The programme aims to give students the knowledge, understanding and skills to plan and manage their progression through learning and into working life. Blenheim strives to ensure equality of opportunity by widening students’ horizons, providing inspiration and raising aspiration to unlock the potential of all learners. This will be achieved through:
- Self-awareness - helping students to reflect on their ambitions, interests, strengths and abilities, recognise their potential and how they can shape their future via the Life Skills and Wellbeing programme of study.
- Career Exploration - helping students to understand and investigate career opportunities, learning pathways, the labour market and employment sectors via the Blenheim curriculum education initiative “Careers in Context”.
- Career Management - helping students to plan, make decisions, implement choices and develop a range of skills enabling them to manage their own careers and prepare themselves for employment via the provision of statutory professional careers guidance from years 11 to 13. This includes links to a variety of internet based careers programmes, E-Magazines, details of apprenticeships and work-based training schemes, Further Education College and University open and taster days and much more. In addition, we have a separate Careers Library which contains a large range of reference books, university and college prospectuses and employment sector information.
Implementation
Providing a distinct and progressive careers curriculum for every year group and embracing and embedding the requirements of the Gatsby Benchmarks. The careers programme is implemented through regular curriculum moments in Life Skills and Wellbeing lessons and across each department through Careers in Context initiative, assemblies on options and pathways, and information events for both students and parents. There is exposure to employers and employees via careers insight talks and webinars from Speakers for Schools, giving students a chance to ask meaningful questions. Access to labour market information is delivered through regular careers bulletins showcasing a wide variety of career sectors. Themed events throughout the year, including National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week strive to inspire and inform our learners. Offering access to information on the full range of FE, HE and vocational pathways including apprenticeships and T levels.
Impact
Blenheim’s Careers Programme is assessed using a variety of measures; integrated in the Life Skills & Wellbeing curriculum, whole school “careers in context” initiative delivered in all curriculum subject areas that is quality assured during work sampling, student and parent surveys at transition points, completing the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Compass Audit every 6 months, monitoring destinations data and the school's development plan.
Careers Education
Raising aspirations and ensuring students are well-informed about current careers pathways and prospects is a crucial element to their ongoing journey at Blenheim. We believe it is essential that our young people have every opportunity to discuss and explore their future pathways and make well-informed decisions that will create a strong foundation for their next steps.
Careers Provision Learning Journey
Raising aspirations and ensuring students are well-informed about current careers pathways and prospects is a crucial element to their ongoing journey at Blenheim. We believe it is essential that our young people have every opportunity to discuss and explore their future pathways and make well-informed decisions that will create a strong foundation for their next steps.
Careers in Life Skills and Wellbeing
Careers education is delivered to all year groups as part of the Life Skills and Wellbeing (LSW) curriculum. Each year group covers Careers based topics each academic year as outlined in the link below.
Careers in Life Skills and Wellbeing Curriculum Learning Journey
Labour Market Information
LMI stands for Labour Market Information. In short, it refers to any relevant information about the current state of the jobs market. It is there to arm you with all the data you need to make informed choices about your career.
'Careerometer' can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers. It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as a description of the occupation.
Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected.
'Skillsometer' can help you discover what jobs you might like to do in the future. You will be presented with a series of statements. Select the emoji that shows how you feel about each statement. You will be given suggestions of jobs linked to what you most enjoy doing.
Careers Bulletins
Please find links below to copies of Blenheim's Careers Bulletin.
Useful Links
The following links are a useful source of information for students and parents/carers wanting to explore the topic of careers further.
National Careers Service - a comprehensive careers website with job profiles, outlining: the skills required, main tasks, pay levels and career prospects for hundreds of different jobs. In addition, valuable guidance on the different stages involved in getting a job.
Further and higher education, skills and vocational training - a website for anyone wanting to know more about apprenticeships, University and college qualifications.
Government information about Apprenticeships
UCAS - a helpful website for students thinking of applying to higher education. Also contains valuable information on different study options, including apprenticeships.
Icould – helpful advice and guides for careers, along with videos about a wide range of job roles.
Job Centre - Find your nearest Jobcentre Plus, find a job, find information about Universal Credit, budgeting loan, benefits, free courses and careers advice including; how to write a CV.
LMI For All - The LMI for All portal provides high quality, reliable labour market information (LMI) to inform careers decisions.
