YEAR 7, 8 & 9

• We aim to help all pupils develop skills, attitudes and abilities which will enable them to be effective in a variety of adult occupations and roles, and improve their employability.
• Pupils in KS3 will have the opportunity to have company visits, employability workshops, and enterprise activities. This exposure to a wide range of opportunities helps them to focus on the type of career they would like to follow and the pathways needed to support that.
• Pupils will work with the careers team (the careers coordinator, head of year and tutors) regularly discuss/monitor/evaluate the programme as necessary working alongside with the Basingstoke Consortium who provide the school with our independent careers advice.
• Each pupil can have the opportunity on request to discuss their career aspirations with a careers advisor and is given the knowledge and support to make informed choices for their KS4 pathways.
• All students will have the opportunity to attend employability workshops at school or in a local workplace that follows with their indicated career interests.
• A variety of careers talks will take place inviting guest speakers to come into assemblies and classes.
• KS4 Pathways Evening – An evening with the Senior Leadership Team and Curriculum Leaders to discuss appropriate pathways for GCSE’s.
• Enterprise Day for Y8 students.
• University Trips – Reading & Winchester Inspiring the Future

Year 10 & 11

• During KS4 each pupil will have at least 1 careers interview and are given the knowledge and support to make informed choices for their post 16 pathway.
• All Y10 & Y11 pupils will have College, apprenticeship and employability skills presentations to assist them to make informed choices about their future pathways.
• During Y10 each pupil will be involved in a Job application sessions in preparation for their mock interview in Y11.
• Pupils in KS4 will have the opportunity to have company visits, employability workshops, and enterprise activities. This exposure to a wide range of opportunities helps them to focus on the type of career they would like to follow and the pathways needed to support that.
• All our year 11 pupils follow our Mock Interview Evening programme, during which they learn self-assessment, self-presentation and interview skills. The programme culminates in our Mock Interview Evening, during which all pupils are interviewed and debriefed by a representative from the world of work. Once again, they are able to use their interviewers’ feedback to assess their own learning.
• We help our year 11 pupils to successfully make the transition from KS4 to post 16 college/training/work through visits to and from our local colleges/training providers, and they are available to parents at our year 11 parents evening.
• Exam Preparation Workshops.

Our school has been awarded the Investor in Careers Award. This award recognises the hard work and determination of all staff in ensuring that the highest quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is being delivered to all students within the school.

The ‘Investor in Careers’ mark is a nationally recognised quality standard that shows we are educating and providing guidance related to pupils’ futures.  We were assessed over our ability to inform pupils about the wealth of careers in the world and their future options after school. We received high praise across the school and were able to demonstrate that we have a comprehensive careers programme for all pupils. The school was showcased at a panel presentation as a leading provider of careers education and ten pupils successfully spoke to an expert about their experiences.

Very few schools achieve this high accolade and we are working hard to ensure we maintain these high standards.  We were commended for our deep learning days, school policy, college links, mock interview evening, STEM opportunities as well as our whole school approach. The pupils who met with the assessor explained how the school was helping them become confident and independent young adults who are prepared to go on to college or work placements after they leave school.

We will continue to strive to improve and demonstrate our commitment to providing high quality, independent and personalised careers education for all pupils, preparing them for the demands of adult life.

1. IIC Stage 1 Certificate
2. IIC Stage 2 Certificate
3. IIC Stage 3 Certificate

Finding a career to suit: Encourage your child to research the type of career that they would like. Help them to find out and consider the necessary qualifications, location, salary, career progression and working conditions.

Career planning: where to start: Help your child to think about and list their interests inside and outside of school including voluntary work, travelling and specialist courses.

Exploring types of careers: Information about careers in particular industries can be obtained either through our career advisor or using online support such as Eclips, icould and Careersbox.  Encourage your child to talk to a variety of adults who have pursued different career paths.

Help with career planning: Talking to a careers adviser will help our students to focus, both internal for Year 9 students and external for Year 10 students.  Check that your child knows when these opportunities arise.

By the time students leave Bishop Challoner they will have developed the skills and confidence to make decisions and take responsibility for their future.  Working together in partnership with parents we hope that every child will find not just a job but a vocation in life which will value their talents and aspirations.