A Careers Education and Guidance Policy for Longfield Academy

Rationale:

All schools need a written policy for CEG (Careers Education and Guidance) to show their understanding of the career development needs of its students, how it intends to meet them and how it will meet its statutory obligations.

Statement of Intent:

At Longfield Academy, we believe that effective CEG is crucial in:

• Preparing young people for adult and working life
• Helping all students to gain knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to make informed choices to successfully plan and manage their own lifelong learning
• Helping all students to achieve by raising aspirations and levels of motivation

Aims of this CEG Policy:

The aims of this policy are to:

• Acknowledge the importance of CEG at Longfield Academy
• Prepare students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life
• Enable students to develop skills, attitudes and abilities which will enable them to be effective in a variety of adult occupations and roles
• Enable the students to identify their careers needs and priorities and manage their personal career development
• Enable students to experience the world of work and be aware of Local and National Labour Market Information
• Enable students to manage key transitions points in their educational lives at Years 9. 11, 12, 13 and beyond
• Encourage students to be flexible, adaptable and self-reliant
• Ensure students are aware of their own strengths and be able to present these to others
• To equip students in the knowledge and skills needed to continue to develop their career potential beyond their school life.

Statutory duty of the Academy:

The 1997 Education Act places a duty on schools to give students in Years 7-11 access to CEG. Longfield Academy endorses the National Framework for Careers Education and Guidance 11-19.

Students are entitled to careers education and guidance that is up to date, impartial and confidential. CEG should be integrated into their experience of the whole curriculum, based on a partnership with students, their parent/carer, school staff and Connexions. The programme will promote equality of opportunity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Implementation / Procedures:

Practices

CEG is taught across all key stages and is designed to meet the needs of our students, ensuring progression through activities that are appropriate to their stage of career learning, planning and development.

The careers programme at Longfield Academy includes careers education lessons (within Citizenship Plus, 6th form enrichment and tutor activities), careers guidance activities (group work and individual interviews with Connexions Personal Advisors), information and research activities (in the Careers Library), work related learning (including work experience) and action planning and recording achievement. Other focused events include attending the local careers convention, visiting theatre groups and selected events or visiting speakers.

Management and Staffing

The Head of Citizenship Plus (Head of Careers) is responsible for CEG at Longfield Academy, working closely with the Careers Administration Manager. The Head of Citizenship Plus is responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluating the Careers education, for consulting and working with the Connexions advisors, organising and monitoring of work experience placements and liaising with the Cross Curricular Coordinator regarding 6th Form. The Careers Administrator supports all the Careers work organising the day to day student guidance, working with Kent works and Connexions.

In addition, all staff are expected to contribute to careers education and guidance, as appropriate through their roles as tutors and subject teachers.

The Connexions Service

The Connexions Service provides an impartial universal service, which contributes to meeting the guidance needs of all students. Connexions meet termly with the Head of Careers and Careers Administrator to review and plan the support given and an action plan is renegotiated on an annual basis. Referral procedures are available to gain access to intensive Personal Advisor support. The aim of the work of the Connexions Personal Advisor (universal and differentiated) is to enhance the support and guidance offered by the school pastoral system. Connexions also have a responsibility to provide CEG related inset, both within school and externally.

Student Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are fully involved in the decision making process which will inform their future career pathways. They must make every effort to attend arranged interview sessions, be an active participant in the action planning process and be responsible for the accessing of relevant career information.

Parent Responsibilities

The Academy informs parents/carers about the Careers Education being delivered and opportunities available. The Academy encourages parents/carers to support their son/daughter in making important decisions about their future career developments. In addition, where appropriate, the Academy welcomes their attendance at meeting, interviews and briefings to support their son/daughter.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The Head of Careers will be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of Careers Education, liaising with Connexions and monitoring the delivery of guidance given to all students.

Date of review of this Policy: February 2011