Contact
Careers Leader: Mrs Laura McParland
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone: 0151 288 1000
At St Francis Xavier’s College we aim for all pupils to go on to employment, education or training after leaving the school. Our NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) figure after leaving year 11 has been consistently low. We are currently renewing the quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance through Career Connect.
All pupils should have sufficient access to careers information advice and guidance to allow them to make informed decisions at important stages in their life i.e. after KS3, KS4 and KS5.
All staff contribute to careers education and guidance through their roles as form tutors and subject teachers. Specialist sessions are provided by external providers, form tutors and teachers of Business Studies.
The school has just started using Unifrog for careers lessons and login details were sent to all students and parents. These take place weekly during the summer term during form time. Pupils must add to this time by logging in outside of form time using the library or home PC.
Parents should log in with your child, explore career options and start / continue discussions around career aspirations.
Access for students, parents and teachers
login:
www.unifrog.org/sign-in
Your username is your school email username.
An initial password has been given to all pupils and parents, which must be changed on first use. Any parent whose child can’t remember should contact Ms McParland on
| Year Group | Careers and work-related education activities | Term | Gatsby Benchmark | Skills, CEIAG links |
| Year 7 | Google Classroom Careers Page
BBC 100 Share Your Story Assemblies with Further Education providers Unifrog Careers Fair National Apprenticeship Week PSHE One to one careers advice on request |
1, 2, 3
1 1&2 1&2 2 2 3 |
1, 2
5 7 2, 3 5, 7 5, 7 1, 2, 4 3, 8 |
Careers information and advice, LMI
Careers, power of storytelling, overcoming challenges Post 16 pathways Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE What are aspirations? Future aspirations, career skills, employability skills Personal guidance |
| Year 8 | BBC 100 Share your story
Google Classroom Careers Page Assemblies with Further Education providers Unifrog Enterprise Day Careers Fair National Apprenticeship Week Meet the Professionals One to one careers advice on request |
1
1, 2, 3 1&2 1, 2, 3 3 2 2 3 3 |
5
1, 2 7 2, 3 5, 2, 1, 5,7 5, 7 5 3, 8 |
Careers, power of storytelling, overcoming challenges
Careers information and advice, LMI Post 16 pathways Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees Personal guidance |
| Year 9 | Unifrog
BBC 100 Share your story Google Classroom Careers Page Assemblies with Further Education providers Options Evening Careers Fair National Apprenticeship Week Enterprise Day PSHE One to one careers advice on request |
1, 2, 3
1 1, 2, 3 1&2 2 2 2 3 3 |
2, 3
5 1, 2 7 4 5, 7 5, 7 5 1, 2, 4 8 |
Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways
Careers, power of storytelling, overcoming challenges Careers information and advice, LMI Post 16 pathways Linking careers in the curriculum Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees Taking control of my future, work skills, the work environment, enterprising skills and qualities, enterprise in the workplace, who would you employ? Personal guidance |
| Year 10 | Unifrog
BBC 100 Share your story Google Classroom Careers Page Work Experience launch National Apprenticeship Week Careers Fair PSHE – Mock interview preparation – application form, interview preparation. Mock interviews Work Experience Careers meetings with Career Connect Advisor |
1, 2, 3
1 1,2,3 1 2 2 3 2 3 2&3 |
2, 3
5 1, 2 6 5, 7 5, 7 1, 2, 4 5 5, 6 8 |
Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways
Careers, power of storytelling, media, apprenticeships Careers information and advice, LMI Opportunity to source a placement linked to aspirations Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Development recruitment documentation for future use, the right career for me, CV development, application form, Careers in STEM, preparing for work, importance of women in work Development in recruitment practice. Encounters with employers Employer encounters, Experiences of workplaces Personal guidance |
| Year 11 | Unifrog
Google Classroom Careers Page Careers meetings with Career Connect Advisor BBC 100 Share Your Story Sixth Form Taster Day Sixth Form Open Evening National Apprenticeship Week Careers Fair |
1,2,3
1,2,3 1,2 1 2/3 1 2 2 |
2, 3
1, 2 8 5 4 4 5, 7 5, 7 |
Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways
Careers information and advice, LMI Personal guidance Careers, power of storytelling, media, apprenticeships Linking careers in the curriculum Linking careers in the curriculum Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE |
| Year 12 | Unifrog
Google Classroom Careers Page BBC 100 Share Your Story National Apprenticeship Week Careers Fair UCAS Higher Education Conference Work Experience Careers meetings with Career Connect Advisor Future Focus Day PSHE |
1,2,3
1,2,3 1 2 2 3 3 2&3 3 |
2, 3
1, 2 5 5, 7 5, 7 7, 8 6 8 2, 7, 8 1, 2, 4 |
Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways
Careers information and advice, LMI Careers, power of storytelling, media, apprenticeships Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Meeting with institution and course providers encounters with HE Employer encounters, Experiences of workplaces Personal guidance Encounters with HE and apprenticeship providers, learning from career and labour market information Careers in STEM, Personal statement development |
| Year 13 | Unifrog
BBC 100 Share Your Story Google Classroom Careers Page Careers meetings with Career Connect Advisor National Apprenticeship Week Careers Fair PSHE |
1,2,3
1 1,2,3 1,2 2 2 1 |
2, 3
5 1, 2 8 5, 7 5, 7 7, 8 |
Careers information and advice, LMI, access to university information, and career pathways
Careers, power of storytelling, media, apprenticeships Careers information and advice, LMI Personal guidance Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE Encounters with employers, employees, FE & HE UCAS and employment development |
In addition to this specialised days are put on for students in each year group:
Years 7-13 Speakers in assemblies
Years 8-10 Enterprise Days
Year 10 Mock interviews
Careers fair
Year 12 and 13 Future focus day and UCAS support
Options evening in Year 9
All students will be invited to attend at least one careers appointment with one of our Career Connect careers advisors, Elaine Meredith [email protected] or Carol Doyle [email protected] before leaving Year 11 or Year 13. Any boys requiring extra support will be seen as many times as required.
Although appointments are made, the advisors are flexible and can take referrals from staff and/or parents and pupils can visit / email to make an appointment themselves.
Elaine and Carol are in school all day Monday to Wednesday and can be contacted on
[email protected] or [email protected]
| Labour market information
LCR Creating Careers (including episodes for SEND students) I Could – Careers information by curriculum subject and LMI. Careerometer widget – This uses LMI to help students explore and compare key information about occupations. Skillsometer widget– This links skills and interests to jobs. HE Shaping Futures – Use the chat function to ask HE related questions. Training Opportunities Be More – Apprenticeship support across Liverpool City Region. Amazing Apprenticeships – Quizzes and information on all levels of training opportunities. Filter to students. Government support on finding apprenticeships. Transition Support Virtual Transition Support for SEND Students in LCR General Careers Support LCR Careers Hub – School resources linked to LCR Growth Sectors. LCR Careers Hub Events Calendar National Careers Service – Search job profiles and ask questions via web chat. T Levels T-levels are a new type of qualification that focuses on high-level technical study and work-ready skills. They have been developed to offer a quality alternative to A-levels and will provide young people with a clear route to skilled employment, as well as progression to higher or degree Apprenticeships, or degree-level study at university. T-levels will combine the career focus and practical elements of current technical and professional qualifications like BTECs and NVQs, with the theory and study of traditional A-levels. A core component of the T-levels qualification is a 45-day industry-based placement, where students will apply the theory they learn in the classroom to the workplace and develop the essential work-ready skills that employers are looking for. For further details have a look at Hugh Baird College video on “What are T-Levels?” |
| Gatsby Benchmarks
Good Career Guidance – An overview of the Gatsby Benchmarks. General Resources National Careers Service E-Pack – Parent Resources, Pages 72-81. General advice and transition support. Labour Market Information Growth Platform – LCR Growth Sectors. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Free careers resources for each of LCR’s key growth sectors. Where the Work Is – Regional LMI. Higher Education Shaping Futures, Parent/Carer Hub Transition Support Training Opportunities Be More – Apprenticeship support across Liverpool City Region. Amazing Apprenticeships, Parent Resources Success at School, Parent Zone SEND Virtual Transition Support for SEND Students in Liverpool City Region EHC Plan – If your child has an EHC Plan, reference the Year 9 annual review which focuses on preparing students for adulthood and sets targets to help students prepare for post-16 options. Local council support for students with SEND |
| Gatsby Benchmarks
Good Career Guidance – An overview of the Gatsby Benchmarks. Government Guidance Employer Led Curriculum Projects Maritime UK Ambassador Project General Careers Support LCR Careers Hub – School resources linked to LCR Growth Sectors. LCR Careers Hub Events Calendar Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Free careers resources for each of LCR’s key growth sectors. National Careers Service E-Pack – Life skills, employability, LMI, careers pioneer activities and SEND activities. Amazing Apprenticeships – Filter to teacher resources |
| Gatsby Benchmarks
Good Career Guidance – An overview of the Gatsby Benchmarks. The Careers & Enterprise Company Employer Guidance Careers in Context: A Can Do Guide for Employers: This guide sets out examples from employers who have already achieved impact and aims to give confidence and inspiration as employers plan activities. CEC Employer Guide for Supporting Careers How Employers Can Support SEND Students DMA Talent: Autism Employer Guidance DMA Talent: Dyslexia Employer Guidance Fuelling the Fires: A Guide to supporting SEND for small and medium sized enterprises General Resources |
Provider Access
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
Pupil entitlement
All pupils in years 8 to 13 are entitled:
- to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
- to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
- to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
For pupils of compulsory school age these encounters are mandatory and there will be a minimum of two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 to 9) and two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 to 11). For pupils in the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 to 13), particularly those that have not yet decided on their next steps, there are two more provider encounters available during this period, which are optional for pupils to attend.
A number of events within the school’s careers programme will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students. Providers will also be offered opportunities to communicate with parents. Providers will be issued with the school’s safeguarding policy prior to meeting with pupils. The annual Careers Fair gives all providers a platform to inform pupils about their offer. Please contact Ms McParland if you have not received a formal invitation to this event and would like to attend. Invitations are sent out in December in advance of the event in March.
Procedure:
A provider wishing to request access should contact:
Ms L. McParland, Careers Lead.
Termly Compass reviews are conducted with the school’s Enterprise Co-ordinator, Mel Aspinall, from Liverpool City Region Careers Hub. This review is used to monitor performance against the Gatsby Benchmarks. The Enterprise Co-ordinator can be a critical friend both supporting and challenging the school’s Careers Education whilst helping to build networks for provision. The Enterprise Co-ordinator also assists in the review of the Careers Policy and provides guidance and support in the strategic planning of the careers programme. Student voice is used throughout the academic year to review activities and determine future provision.
The school’s Enterprise Advisor is Sarah Martindale from HSC. The work of the Enterprise Advisor can help to bridge the gap between the world of work, education, working with the Careers Leader and senior leaders of the school to create opportunities for young people. Meetings and reviews take place throughout the academic year and opportunities are identified to support the school with events where appropriate.
The next review of information published is February 2023.