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Beckfoot Trust is an organisation that links a group of local Bradford schools together so that they can collectively improve the life chances for young people within their schools. Our aim is to create a group of truly remarkable schools each with a genuine comprehensive intake. They will be wonderful places for young people to learn and grow up in. We want to make a difference. We want to create something special.

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Students & Learning

Careers Programme

Our Careers programme runs from Year 7 to Year 13 and gives students a strong understanding of life after they leave the school. It has been designed to align with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, as well as the specific needs of our students and the local community.

Students have many opportunities to meet with employers and learn about the different careers, including the various routes into those careers. Students learn

  • about the different work sectors and are taught to challenge stereotypes and discrimination that exist in the world of work

  • how to take responsibility for their own career by planning for the future

  • how to create an effective CV and a personal statement for apprenticeships and universities.

Our  programme supports pupils through each of the transitions they face, such as choosing Year 9 options and finding the right pathway after Years 11 and 13.

Our Careers programme 
Students receive individual impartial advice from our Level 7 qualified Careers advisor who has been commissioned from Skills House and the CTE Partnership. Impartial and independent advice is given to students in accordance with the Statutory Guidance for Schools (Jan 18) and Guidance for Colleges and Sixth Forms (Feb 18). It is organised and delivered in accordance with the Gatsby Benchmarks and Compass tool.  All students receive a one-to-one meeting in either Year 10 or Year 11 and also in Sixth Form.

Students identified as requiring an extra meeting are seen again. Students in any year can be referred for a Careers meeting. Any requests to see the Careers advisor should be made directly to the appropriate Year Team. The Careers advisor is also present at the Parents’ Evenings for Years 9-13 as well as at results day for both Year 11 and 13.

Careers lessons are delivered through a variety of ways. You can read the full curriculum here.

The lessons take place during tutor time (Future Learners) and Open Minds, as well as through Life Skills learning for selected students. Students also have access to a KS3 and KS4 Careers Club, which runs weekly and is supervised by our Careers advisor. All year groups have a specific Career Information and Bulletin Teams Page, which is updated regularly, and evaluated regularly to ensure it has the relevant information, specific to each year group. Students also have access in Years 9-13 to a Uni Connect Progress Officer who seeks to identify and address issues, including attainment raising around progression to higher education for those from cohorts currently under-represented in higher education

All students have access to Unifrog, which they use as a guide to research and find the right career path. Students and staff are able to access Hayes Inspire, which aims to connect education with employers, with the aim of supporting schools in raising aspirations and inspiring students.

Students have encounters with employers from the local community: Ogden fulfilment/Fullers each year through talks from guest speakers in assemblies in Years 7 - 13. Students have a Post 16 and Vocational Taster Morning in Year 11 in which they will hear from external speakers/universities/local colleges and employers and have opportunities to experience taster A-level and BTEC lessons and carry out various careers related activities throughout the morning. Students across all Year groups have contact with employers and further education through various school trips and guest speakers visiting assemblies. Students also have an opportunity to experience talks from local universities (Bradford, Leeds Beckett and Leeds Trinity) as well taster university lessons through enrichment.

Students participate in themed weeks during tutor time including Apprenticeship Week and Careers Week and Braford Manufacturing Week. Post 16 students have the opportunity to attend Apprenticeship and UCAS fairs. Post 16 students (Year 12) will have a work experience week, as well as having access to virtual work experience placements through Speakers for Schools.

Students participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities in school which explores the jobs available and highlights the problem of the lack of women in this work sector and participate in the Bradford Manufacturing week. These activities are being strengthened further by our recent link with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and our regional Enterprise Coordinator, again linked to LEP.




Our Careers programme is re-evaluated every year during the summer term. The next evaluation will take place in July 2024, with a review against Gatsby Benchmarks and the end of year Compass report. We will review what is working well and will identify areas that require further development so that we can continue to improve our practice and further strengthen our Careers programme.

 

We review all feedback from:

  • Year 13 and Year 11 destination data.
  • Questionnaires completed by students
  • Student voice.
  • Evaluation with our Careers advisor.

 

If you explore the Careers section of our website you will find lots of information, websites, videos, and other resources to help you to discover how we support all our students to find their own paths and prepare for life after they leave school.

Beckfoot Oakbank Careers Policy