Careers At Gateacre School
There has never been a time when careers guidance has been as important for young people as it is today. The landscape of education, training and employment opportunities that students need to navigate is more complex and more challenging than that faced by previous generations.
We support students in making well-informed decisions by providing access to differentiated, impartial and independent information and guidance about the range of options (including academic, vocational, apprenticeships) that are most likely to help them to achieve their ambitions. By helping students with decisions at crucial stages, informing them of all their options and introducing them to the world of work, we aim to prepare them for the world of work whichever pathway they choose.
Aims of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) at Gateacre School
- to raise students’ aspirations and to broaden their horizons
- to inspire and to empower students to make informed realistic decisions at key transition points in learning and work
- to provide good quality independent and impartial careers advice to students which inspires them and motivates them to fulfil their potential
- to provide advice and guidance which is in the best interests of the student
- to provide opportunities to work in partnership with employers, training providers, local colleges and others to provide opportunities to inspire students through real-life contact with the world of work
- to develop enterprise and employability skills including skills for self-employment
- to support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity
Key Staff
Careers Leader Mrs J. Boyd (Assistant Principal), j.boyd@gateacre.org, 0151 363 1111 ext. 402
Curriculum and Options Mr A. Dalton-Bunker (Deputy Principal)
Director of Sixth Form Mrs J. Kinder ( Assistant Principal)
Career Connect Advisor Mrs C. Byrne, Carol.Byrne@careerconnect.org.uk
Link Governor for CEIAG Mr S Atkinson
Implementation of our Careers Programme
Our Careers Programme is delivered to students in all year groups as part of our RESPECT programme.
Click below for our document containing an Overview of Careers Information Advice and Guidance at Gateacre.
Gateacre Careers Learning Journey
Measuring the impact of our careers programme
The schools progress towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks is evaluated using the online Compass tool. This is carried out on an annual basis by the Careers Leader. The Careers Action plan is based upon the outcomes of the Compass audit.
Provision is also monitored through regular feedback from students, staff, governors and our partners. This feedback is collected through questionnaires and focus groups following key careers activities and at the end of each academic year. This is analysed by the Careers Leader with actions fed back to staff via CEIAG meetings. Key action points are also included in the annual school development plan.
External provision is monitored and evaluated through the School’s Quality Assurance procedures including observations, student, and if appropriate parental, voice. This is analysed by the Careers Leader with actions fed back to key staff
The effectiveness of our careers programme is reviewed using the externally accredited Career Connect Quality Award which has achieved the Quality in Careers Standard. We are proud that we achieved this award in 2013 and were reaccredited in 2016 and 2019 against all benchmarks. We have recently been awarded reaccreditation in the autumn term 2023.
The effectiveness of our careers guidance will be reflected in the higher numbers of students progressing to positive destinations such as apprenticeships, technical routes, sixth form colleges, further education colleges, universities or employment. Destination data (Dfe) is used to assess how successfully students make the transition into the next stage of education or training, or into employment and to inform future CEIAG provision.
A designated governor has responsibility for overseeing the quality of careers guidance. The Careers Leader reports to the Governor for CEIAG .
The CEIAG policy is reviewed on an annual basis by the Careers Leader. This is ratified by Governors.
The Careers Programme is pl.anned and reviewed annually.
If you would like further information about our careers programme or would like to form part of our careers focus group please contact our Careers Leader Mrs J. Boyd j.boyd@gateacre.org
Access to independent careers advice is provided by Career Connect. Students at Gateacre receive impartial independent careers advice with qualified Careers Advisor, Mrs C. Byrne who works in school two days per week.
