Proud to be a member of the
Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust
Proud to be a member of the
Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust

Careers Programme

Careers & Personal Development at Somercotes Academy is not just a single subject. The Curriculum Area covers PSHE (personal, social, health and economic), Careers and many aspects of Work-Related Learning in addition to Careers & Personal Development under this single title. All students in all Years have one lesson a week.

Careers & Personal Development gives students the skills and attitudes to lead successful lives at The Academy and beyond.

Somercotes Academy is proud to be a member of the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, established to help every young person find their best next step and delivered locally by the team at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP. The Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub is funded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, the Careers and Enterprise Company, Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and the Humber Outreach Programme

Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership | Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub | The Careers & Enterprise Company

Ethos & Values

In this Curriculum Area, we aim to help students:

  • Develop their confidence and responsibility and make the most of their abilities.
  • Develop a healthy, safer lifestyle.
  • Gain the skills necessary to lead a life with Financial and Economic awareness.
  • Enjoy lessons gaining skills necessary for a productive future.
  • Take part in activities that allow them to make a contribution to the local and wider communities.
  • Develop good relationships and respect the differences between people.
  • Know and understand about becoming informed citizens.
  • Develop skills of enquiry and communication.
  • Develop skills of participation and responsible action.
  • Continually develop the skills and practice of all staff.
  • Adopt a philosophy of continuous improvement in every aspect of the delivery of all subjects within the curriculum area.

Knowledge & Skills

Within Careers & Personal Development students will have the opportunity to study Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education; Careers and Vocational Education. It is a compulsory subject in Key Stages 3 and 4 with opportunities embedded through all other subject areas across the school to assist in meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks What Good Looks Like - Gatsby Benchmarks and CDI framework New Career Development Framework (thecdi.net).


Resources & Facilities

The curriculum has a centralised bank of multimedia resources as well as general teaching resources to allow lessons to be fully interactive for the student.

The curriculum area also has a number of teambuilding resources such as; sexual health resources and drug awareness teaching aids.


Courses and qualifications

Curriculum Map 2023–24

The Hectic Teacher - PSHE Progression

Key Stage 3 & 4

Careers Map 2023–24

The Hectic Teacher - PSHE Progression

Personal Development Mapping

Citizenship Mapping

SMSC Mapping

Students at Somercotes Academy study a Careers & Personal Development curriculum that includes key elements of PHSE to teach learners to be an active Modern Citizen for their communities and wider life.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Focus is given to transition from primary school, ways we can keep safe, British puberty & safeguarding, Careers, British Values and other topics.

Year 8

Students further develop their understanding of puberty and relationships and multiculturalism whilst also exploring the law and democracy of the UK, careers and options alongside topics.

Year 9

Continuing learners' awareness of healthy relationships and RSE, Body Confidence and Self Esteem, Careers, Drug awareness and further knowledge on their rights as a citizen.

Key Stage 4

Year 10 & 11

As well as continuing and developing the areas introduced in KS3 focus on elements from the four interrelated strands of personal development, health and safety, relationships and becoming an active citizen. Timing and content are appropriate for the student's needs and priorities in each year. Sex and Relationship Education, Drugs Education (smoking and alcohol), Healthy Lifestyle and Inter Personal Skills are central to this Key Stage. In addition, students study cultures and religious groups as well as wider moral and ethical concerns.

Year 11 students are guided through the procedure for applications Post 16 and are given information on all options at all institutions to allow them to make informed choices about their future. Student are encouraged to visit all open days and careers events available to them and to use the post 16 application website Lincs2 Home (lincs2.co.uk) that has been designed for use within the local area. We strive to give all students at least one, one to one interview to aid them in these important decisions and a private interview room is available to accommodate this. In addition, students in year 11 study mental health and stress.

Morrisby On line Careers Platform

The School is now using a career platform called Morrisby. Morrisby allows the School to track individual career guidance provision across all the Gatsby Benchmarks. Students are able to print their career report to get an overview of what they have completed within their career-learning journey. The report also includes a range of activities they can complete in the future to add to their existing profile of research.

Morrisby is available to all pupils and students, teaching staff as well as parents and carers at Somercotes Academy. It provides young people with the opportunity to undertake psychometric profile testing which evolves as a young person's interests and passions grow and change. Somercotes Academy uses Morrisby to track young people's career learning. Students have an opportunity to offer feedback on careers events, such as careers days, so that the impact of the careers programme can be evaluated. As Morrisby is an evolving platform, it offers young people up to date careers advice and information and is a part of the support offered to all pupils and students to start their career journey.

Careers Advice & Guidance Online Platform - Morrisby

Sex Education / Using the NSPCC Talk Relationships programme

Year 9

As part of our Year 9 Personal and Social Education program we deliver a series of sessions on Relationships and Sex Education. These lessons follow government guidelines and the topics included in this programme are: -

  • Appropriate behaviour in personal situations
  • Relationships and sexual relationships
  • Consent
  • Sexual intercourse
  • The risks involved in having sexual intercourse
  • Pregnancy
  • Contraception
  • HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Safer Sex
  • Sexting

All students in Year 9 participate in these classes unless a written request from a parent/guardian asking for their child is to be withdrawn from the lessons. Letters will be sent out to parents to let them know when this will be taught.

Year 11

As part of our Year 11 Personal and Social Education program we deliver a series of sessions on Relationships and Sex Education. These lessons follow government guidelines and the topics included in this programme are: -

  • Consent
  • Pornography
  • Contraception
  • STI's
  • Pregnancy
  • Abuse, FGM
  • LGBTQ+

These topics above for both year groups will be dealt with in terms of choices, options and responsibilities. The lessons will be delivered in a sensitive manner in the context of the family, and a loving caring relationship.


Learning Outside the Classroom

In addition to the taught programmes the Curriculum Area offers a variety of activities and opportunities for the students. Below is a link to the Gatsby Benchmarks and how we will achieve them through additional activities for the pupils.

Learner will also have the opportunity to experience taster days and Career Fairs - working closely with Grimsby Institute, Franklin College, Riseholme, Bishop Grosseteste among others. These days give our students the opportunity to have a look around the colleges and Universities and being exposed to life beyond secondary education and look at courses they may be interested in for post-16 options. We also work hard to promote careers fairs available locally and to arrange for employers to visit the Academy for our learners to have experiences of the work place.

We work closely with many training providers as well as those offering apprenticeship routes, with support from our local Enterprise Advisors to support the virtual or real-life experiences. We work with:

  • ASK apprenticeships
  • Speakers for Schools
  • HETA
  • Army
  • RAF
  • Tong Engineering
  • Plus, many more….

Please see below our calendar of events which will be updated throughout the year for activities linked to careers for the learners

What can students do to develop their skills in this subject area?

  • Take part in additional projects to extend knowledge of the topics covered in lessons - (For suggested activities please see Careers & Personal Development teacher).
  • Entering into competitions, e.g., 'Step into the NHS' competition for Year 9 students.
  • Reading widely to develop appreciation of social and current affairs - broadsheet newspapers and online newspapers.
  • Watching or listening to the news for local, national and global issues to discuss in lessons.
  • Watching current affairs television programmes which reinforce the Careers & Personal Development curriculum - for instance The Big Questions.

Employers

Gary Forbisher - Talent Acquisition Manager LHP (Lincolnshire Housing Partnership)

We are happy to have Lincolnshire Housing Partnership and Gary Frobisher onboard an Employment Advisor to help support our pupils and careers programme at Somercotes Academy.

LHP

"I have worked in Learning & Development for 18 years and have a great track record in training and developing people. I'm passionate about providing opportunities for all Lincolnshire communities to find a career that they are proud of. My organisation, Lincolnshire Housing Partnership (LHP) is a social landlord and has a vision to provide great homes and strong communities". (Gary Forbisher)

Employers -

We are always looking for businesses and industries to work with. If you feel you could offer your time to help enrich our current careers programme, please get in touch via the details below

Could you offer...

An Assembly: Come in and deliver a 20-minute presentation to our students about your job/business/industry

Working lunch: Join a small group of students who are interested in working in your industry. Have a Q&A session with students, talk about your role and your progression routes.

Careers talk: Join a class of students and talk about your career/industry - your journey into it and the qualifications and the experience you might need in the sphere.

Mock Interviews: Could you give up an hour or so to help us run mock interviews for students so the gain vital interview experience?

Fundraising: We are always looking for ways to raise money for the school if this is something you feel you could get involved, please get in touch.

We look forward to working with you in the future.

Contact us:

Mrs L Brown - Career Leader- brownl@somercotesacademy.co.uk

Tel: 01507 353459

Mrs H Smith- Assistant Principal smithh1@somercotesacademy.co.uk

Vince Agorini - Changing Education Level 6 Careers Advisor

Lizzie Whittingham - Careers Support

Policy

Provider Access policy

Our Provider Access Policy document is available here.

Careers Programme Intent-Implementation-Impact

Intent: Access to a variety of career development resources is key to a student's progression when it comes to developing their own career pathway. This takes skills, knowledge, relevant advice, guidance and the right attitude. We need to work on these career development skills throughout our lives. As staff, we must ensure that learners understand that whether they are in education, in work, unemployed or involved in caring or voluntary activity there will always be opportunities to work on their career development skills.

At Somercotes Academy we aim to empower all students to make realistic and informed choices about their future. Regardless of background, our approach focuses on providing opportunities to all our students. Enabling them to grow as individuals, become employable and achieve personal and economic wellbeing in modern Britain as a modern citizen.

Our aims are:

  1. To embed careers across the curriculum in original ways.
  2. To provide clear impartial information, advice, and guidance, which supports pupils with developing their own personalised careers journey.
  3. To make sure our careers curriculum encourages all students and supports them in expanding their potential.
  4. To provide tailored careers support to identified cohorts ensuring they reach their full potential.
  5. To develop confidence in parents and staff in their roles as careers advocates.
  6. To ensure that students with special educational needs and disabilities, or those from disadvantaged groups, can aim to and achieve a career equal with their peers.
  7. To challenge perceptions and stereotypes and raise aspirations so that subject and career choices are free from gender bias and students know how to look beyond their immediate environment to new and exciting opportunities.
  8. Know how to find and interpret labour market information at local, regional and national scale.

Career development skills can be improved by attending a course, trying new things, learning through doing, reading and engaging with the media, building networks and by reflecting on what they do well (and not so well).

Somercotes Academy aims to support and encourage our learners in becoming employable and aspirational people who are successful, confident and ambitious, with an understanding of their own skills and strengths, through engaging parents / carers where applicable, and local employers, both in College and through external visits and events.

Our careers programme recognises the needs of our learners within the local community and aims to highlight the availability of jobs and training opportunities locally and across the wider region of the Lincolnshire. Our learners have been impacted by a global pandemic, and our careers programme will reflect the changing landscape of employment and required skills as a result of the short and long-term economic impacts of Covid-19. We also recognise the needs of our local wider community, aiming to work with local businesses who may be unable to hire new talent with the skills and abilities they require.

Implementation:

Ongoing staff training and support is provided by the Careers Leader and Greater Lincolnshire LEP, to ensure that staff have access to relevant information and are able to access careers related training. To prepare learners for their future study, training or work opportunities, we offer a varied curriculum scheme of work to allow learners to develop the skills and knowledge needed to have a successful future career.

The Careers Plan details the activities that will take place throughout the academic year. This document provides an outline overview of the core activities that are scheduled. Additional activities will be made available to learners throughout the year. Support through the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and its Enterprise Advisors will also help support the programme as well as the support of external stakeholders and agencies to compliment the curriculum and enhance the offering for learners.

The Careers Advisor is available for personnel guidance through careers leader and personal need and request.

In addition to the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, our 2023-2024 careers programme is linked to the new CDI (Careers & Development Institute) Framework. The CDI's Career Development Framework describes the six career development skills that people need to have positive careers. Both are cross-referenced below.

CDI Career Development Framework and the Gatsby Benchmarks

Our 2023-2024 careers programme is also delivered through the PSHE framework. Which enables careers to have a dedicated and timetabled provision across Key Stages 3 & 4.

Impact: Somercotes Academy measures and evaluates the impact of its careers programme through student surveys, destination data, and the COMPASS+ tool each term to reflect on progress towards the Gatsby benchmarks.

We provide parents the opportunity to feedback on the programme and obtain employer feedback after all employer engagement activities. We work closely with our LEP Team | Greater Lincolnshire LEP adviser to assess our careers programme against other schools & colleges in the region.

The impact of the successful implementation of the careers programme will be:

  • Learners become more aware of the choices available to them, and are prepared for the working world.
  • Careers learning will become increasingly embedded within the curriculum
  • Continued improvement/maintenance in the destinations of leavers, demonstrated through the collection of intended and actual destinations of learners when they complete their courses and progress to positive destinations
  • Ongoing evaluation of the impact of the careers programme will be undertaken, considering feedback from all stakeholders.

This information will be continuously reviewed and any changes, updates or adjustments that are deemed necessary will be made to ensure the successful implementation of the progressive programme.

Accountability

  • Link Governor responsible for ensuring careers guidance is given in an unbiased manner, showing no preference towards a specific institution, education, or work option.
  • Senior Leadership Team responsible for the review of the career and education guidance strategy, yearly destination measures, and the yearly career plan.
  • Link SLT Careers Line Manager responsible and accountable for the delivery of the school's programme of career advice and guidance.
  • Careers Leader responsible for organising career talks, assemblies, organising college applications and references and ensuring tracking of career activities undertaken by students. Responsible for providing independent information, advice, and guidance to pupils one-to-one and in groups.
  • Careers Enterprise Adviser is a volunteer from a business who will work with the Careers Leader to drive improvements in the school's careers provision.
  • Greater Lincolnshire LEP Coordinator responsible for providing the Academy with expertise and support for their careers provision.
  • Heads of Departments / Subject leaders are responsible for incorporating career learning within their curriculum linked to real-world career paths.
  • Subject Teachers are responsible for linking curriculum learning with careers.

We are keen to showcase the broad and diverse range of career opportunities our students experience across the curriculum via our Facebook Somercotes Academy - Home | Facebook and Somercotes Academy Newsletter.

For any further information or questions regarding the above, see contact details below:

Mrs H Smith
Assistant Principal - Line Manager Careers
Tel: 01507 353459
Email: smithh1@somercotesacademy.co.uk

Mrs L Brown
Careers Leader
Tel: 01507 353459
Email: brownl@somercotesacademy.co.uk

Local Market Information/Parent Support

Are you wondering what jobs are available in your area and how the world of work is changing, Local Market Information can help, it can tell you a variety of things including the number of job vacancies in each job area. The type of vacancies - if they are part-time, full-time, temporary, seasonal, or permanent. General trends in the world of work - such as which types of business are doing well or not so well.

Please click on the links below to view Labour Market information for the local area.

Labour market information (LMI) is information about the current economic and employment situation, it is relevant whilst looking at various career and employment options. It includes data on graduate destinations, average-starting salaries, current trends in employment sectors and recruitment patterns, therefore, is a good place to start when looking at future options for college and beyond. The Greater Lincolnshire LEP provides information about this, helping you feel inspired and informed about careers in your local area. They also manage the World of Work website, which contains lots of information about careers, apprenticeships and priority sectors in Lincolnshire.

HOME | MYPATH Careers (mypathcareersuk.com)

Home | Greater Lincolnshire LEP

The World of Work

Local Market Information for All

Labour Market Information (LMI) / Parents support -LMI PARENT A parents' toolkit for career conversations (talkingfutures.org.uk)

Destination Data

  Number Percentage
Number of pupils 72  
Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 62 86%
Further education college or other further education provider 46 64%
School sixth form — state funded 4 6%
Sixth-form college — state funded 12 17%
Other education destinations 0 0%
Pupils staying in apprenticeships for at least six months 4 6%
Pupils in education or apprenticeships which were not sustained for two terms 5 7%
Pupils not captured in educaton or apprenticeships (destination unknown or in employment) 1 1%

What websites could students visit to support the curriculum?

The following websites are useful;

Democracy:

www.parliament.uk

www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

Human Rights:

www.unicef.org.uk

www.oxfam.org.uk

www.amnesty.org.uk

www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk

www.redcross.org.uk

www.savethechildren.org.uk

www.un.org

Animal Rights & Welfare:

www.peta.org.uk

www.animalaid.org.uk

www.rspca.org

www.wwf.org.uk

Miscellaneous:

www.fairtrade.org.uk

www.crisis.org.uk - homelessness.

www.kickitout.org - racism.

www.truetube.co.uk - for clips that support and extend the topics studied.

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround - for up-to-date news.

Subject related career links:

Art and Design
Business Studies
Computer Science
English
Geography
History
Math
Media Studies
Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
P.E.
Performing Arts
Science
Technology (Design and Technology)
Parents' guides

Apprenticeships

Guide to T-Levels

Democracy:

www.parliament.uk

www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

Human Rights:

www.unicef.org.uk

www.oxfam.org.uk

www.amnesty.org.uk

www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk

www.redcross.org.uk

www.savethechildren.org.uk

www.un.org

Animal Rights & Welfare:

www.peta.org.uk

www.animalaid.org.uk

www.rspca.org

www.wwf.org.uk

Miscellaneous:

www.fairtrade.org.uk

www.crisis.org.uk - homelessness.

www.kickitout.org - racism.

www.truetube.co.uk - for clips that support and extend the topics studied.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround - for up to date news.

www.thinkuknow.co.uk - a website dedicated to preventing child exploitation online from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre.

www.talktofrank.com - this supports the topic of Drug Awareness which Year 9 study.


How We Evaluate

Review date for policy and careers programme July 2024

We evaluate the careers programme and the policy with the following:-

  • Future Skills Questionnaire
  • Faculty Meeting
  • Compass Plus
  • Employer feedback
  • Student feedback
  • Parent feedback

Where Does This Take Me in The Future?

The study of Careers & Personal Development provides students with the knowledge, ability and confidence to leave the establishment as rounded young citizens of the local and wider community.

All topics covered provide a good progression route to more advanced qualifications, and courses at FE colleges and higher education.

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