Careers Education and Guidance

Careers Lead - Mrs J Edwards, Assistant Headteacher

We have created a bespoke and personalised approach to careers education, designed
to give pupils age-appropriate information about different progression routes and career
options, and to develop the skills they need to be able to pursue their goals.

We regularly review our careers programme against the new ‘Gatsby Benchmarks,’ which is a
framework of best practice. We listen to our pupils' opinions about the provision and amend the
programme accordingly.

Statutory Requirements

The careers provision at The Westgate School is in line with the statutory guidance developed by the Department of Education, which refers to Secton 42A and 45A of the Education Act 1997: as a school we provide independent careers guidance from Year 7 to Year 11. This guidance is impartial and gives information on a range of pathways and post-16 education providers, including university options, apprenticeships and further education. it is adapted to meet the needs and interests of the individual pupils.

Careers Companion

Careers Companion is an impartial and up to date review service of Careers, Education Information and Guidance. The website is populated by our own Westgate Careers Education Programme, and we use it as part of our careers education tutor time and CPSHEE lessons. It has been designed to help and support people of all ages at life’s key transitions from Year 9 (Age 13-14) pupils in school right through to adults planning for retirement. Users are offered access to four portals; Student (13-19), Graduate, Career Changer and Adviser (Teacher/Parent). The site is maintained and updated by a team of professionals working in career guidance, education and information. Simply click on the VLE and scroll to the programme on the left hand side. Through this web site pupils can also access National Careers Service and National Apprenticeship website. Please click on the link below to access this.

https://bespoke.careercompanion.co.uk/libraries/index

One to One Careers Interviews

In Key Stage 4 pupils will receive a one to one career interview with Steve Pattle our Careers Adviser. Pupils can request an interview via their tutor or can self refer and ask Mrs Barnard to forward their names to Steve. These are essential for your son or daughter especially if they are unsure of what they wish to do after they leave The Westgate or need any further reassurance. You are welcome to come along to these appointments if you wish. Pupils can request further interviews until they are confident in the choices they have made. Pupils in Key Stage 3 can also request an interview with the Careers adviser via their tutor or though Mrs Barnard in the LRC.

College Talks/Open Evenings/Apprenticeships

During assemblies, pupils will have college and apprenticeship talks from all the local colleges. They will be able to take home a prospectus for the local colleges and the dates for the Open Evenings at these institutions which start very soon. A list of Open Evenings for all the local colleges can be found here. Please visit as many of these as you can so that your son/daughter can make a fully informed decision about where they will go to next year. BCOT also promote an Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair in March. Pupils who are looking for an apprenticeship will be notified of any local apprenticeships through Steve Pattle our careers adviser. There is also a National Apprenticeship website which has a wealth of information.

Westgate Careers Fair

We have our Year 11 Careers Fair in The Hub (date to be advised). Please do come along with your son/daughter to meet with all local colleges, training and apprenticeship providers.

Our annual careers fair where we have over 30 employers, universities, colleges, and business will be on Thursday 12 March 2020.

If you would like to discuss any of the careers process further, or would like to contribute to our careers programme with your own career and employment journey we would love to hear from you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me: J.edwards@westgate.hants.sch.co.uk or Sam Barnard, Careers librarian sbarnard@westgate.hants.sch.co.uk or our careers adviser S.pattle@westgate.hants.sch.co.uk.