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Welcome to Careers at Sandwell Academy

Sandwell Academy offers a full time Careers team to support students, parents and carers in regards to their next steps once they leave the Academy. Located in the centre of the Academy above the main reception, the team operates an open door policy, allowing students to drop in to speak to a member of team. 

The Careers Team consists of a Director of Careers, Mr Chris Packham.

She is supported by: 

  • Mrs Karen Soulsby - Independent Careers Advisor
    • Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
    • Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm
  • Ms Claudette Mcclean - Work Experience Officer
    • Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 4:30pm
    • Friday: 8:00am - 3:30pm

Student Entitlements to Careers Education are set out in a Careers Policy (copies available in the Careers Department). There is a planned programme of Careers Education providing opportunities to develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to make realistic career decisions.

For any further information about the Careers Curriculum, please contact Chris Packham - Director of Careers.

 
For Students and Parents
 
For Employers

Each student is entitled to:

  • Individual guidance from the Director of Careers, the Impartial Careers Advisor and the Work Experience Placement officer. 
  • A 'drop-in' Careers Resource Centre with comprehensive and up-to-date information on opportunities in Education, Training and Employment.
  • Access to Unifrog a complete destinations platform, which helps students compare every opportunity, then apply successfully.
  • Access to UCAS (information on universities in the UK).
  • A Careers Education Programme built into the Academy Curriculum.
  • A Work Placement

Careers Programme 2023/2024

Sandwell Academy is committed to meet both the Gatsby Bench Marks and the CDI Framework.

Examples of Careers activities linked to Gatsby Benchmarks can be seen below:

Gatsby Benchmark

#

GSA Careers Activities

A stable careers programme

1

PSHE/Curriculum/One to one CEIAG

Learning from labour market information

2

Assemblies/Website/PHSE

Addressing the needs of each pupil

3

One to one CEIAG meetings/Connexions

Linking curriculum learning to careers

4

Curriculum and careers/STEM

Encounters with employers and employees

5

Employer talks/Assemblies

Experiences of workplaces

6

Work experience/Work place visits

Encounters with further and higher Education

7

Assemblies/Careers fairs/FE visits

Personal guidance

8

One to one CEIAG meetings/Connexions

Year 7

  Gatsby Bench Marks CDI Framework Mapping
  • Students will take part in an Introduction to Careers and Library session
  • Students will create their account on Unifrog
  • They will also explore Unifrog and complete Skills & Qualities questionnaire
  • Students will take part in a “Who am I “ discussion and complete a worksheet
 1 3 Grow Through Life

Year 8

  Gatsby Bench Marks CDI Framework Mapping
  • Students will take part in an “Explore Possibilities” workshop and complete a worksheet
  • Students will attend a HE assembly to begin to understand the role of Universities
  • Student will continue to research career options on Unifrog and record their results
 1 2 3 7 Explore Possibilities

Year 9

  Gatsby Bench Marks CDI Framework Mapping
  • Students will take part in an “What is a Career” discussion and complete a worksheet
  • Students will have the opportunity to speak to an ex- student or employer to ask questions about their career journey
  • Students will be able to explore a range of careers using Unifrog
 1 2 3 Manage a Career

Year 10

  Gatsby Bench Marks CDI Framework Mapping
  • Students and their parents will research and apply for a work experience placement
  • Students will gain experience of the workplace and record completed tasks in their diary.
  • Students and parents will attend a Careers Exploration evening
  • Students will take part in a discussion on “What is an Entrepreneur” and complete the worksheet.
  • Students will meet a range of FE/HE/Apprenticeship Providers and Employers and the in house Careers Fair
  • Students will continue to use Unifrog to research their options
1 2 3 4 6 7 8 Create Opportunities

Year 11

  Gatsby Bench Marks CDI Framework Mapping
  • All students will receive a 1.1 interview to discuss their post 16 pathway
  • Students will explore “Balancing Life & Work” and complete the worksheet
  • Students will meet a range of FE/HE/Apprenticeship Providers and Employers to discuss their post 16 options
  • Students will be supported in the lead up to exams by attending a workshop
 1 2 3 4 7 8 Balance Life & Work

See the Big Picture

Post 16

  Gatsby Bench Marks CDI Framework Mapping
  • Year 12 students and their parents will research and apply for a work experience placement
  • Students will gain experience of the workplace and record completed tasks in their diary
  • Student will meet a range of FE/HE/Apprenticeship Providers and Employers and the in house Careers Fair
  • Students will be encourage to visit University open days
  • Students will take part in a UCAS application preparation day, when they will create their UCAS account and hear about University Life
  • Students will take part in a Post 18 choices workshop and continue to complete their research on Unifrog
  • Year 13 students will receive 1.1 interview to discuss their post 18 choices
  • Students will begin to complete their UCAS applications and identify their chosen Universities using Unifrog and University websites
  • Year 13 students will explore the meaning of “Personal Branding “ and complete the workshop
  • Students will explore the Apprenticeship opportunities
1 2 3 5 6 7 8 Explore Possibilities

Growing Through Life

See the Big Picture

Provider Access Policy

Attached are the DFE Guidelines