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Careers support at Ivy Lane School
Helping students with careers planning at Ivy Lane School.
Introduction and aims
This page has been designed to support the statutory guidance issued by the DfE July 2021 (Careers guidance and access for education and training providers) This guidance will support/inform our careers education, information, advice and guidance policy.
Pupil entitlement: In accordance to the DfE guidance (July 2021 – Careers guidance and access for education and training providers) we recognise all students in years 8-13 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;
- 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;
- understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses
- receive yearly careers advice/guidance from an independent advisor
Within this it is acknowledged that for our students with complex needs we should always aspire to opportunities of paid employment. For those adults who leave school and best interests decisions support voluntary, educational or training opportunities being their best next step our careers guidance/ transition planning processes will support a move towards these destinations.
Working alongside student’s EHC plans and reviews
As a school we seek to consider/acknowledge each student’s aspirations for adulthood and record these in our transition planning EHCP section; using such aspirations teachers will identify opportunities which enable students to find out further information/make visits to work based providers from year 10 upwards (where these provide meaning) to provide our students and their families with further information, advice and guidance.
From Year 12 our named staff with responsibility for careers guidance will attend all EHCP reviews offering students and their families’ information in regard to future options – eg – colleges of further education – college prospectus/course information. In Year 13 identified colleges of FE will be invited to student annual reviews arranging visits/interviews with students based upon preferences provided.
Annual program of careers related events
Additionally, a number of events, integrated into our school’s careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers:
Current opportunities include:
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Key Stages 3 & 4 | Visit to a local employer
Careers talk by specialist professional Opportunity to visit a careers fair |
Opportunities to visit college open events
Opportunity for a careers interview as required |
Learning opportunities to develop CV skills |
| Key Stages 5 | Visit to a local employer
Careers talk by specialist professional Opportunity to visit a careers fair Weekly meaningful work experience in an area of interest |
Opportunities to visit college open events
Opportunity for a careers interview as required Weekly meaningful work experience in an area of interest |
Support with building CV, record of achievement and application forms as required.
Weekly meaningful work experience in an area of interest |
Equality of Opportunity
We recognise that all students and their families have the same entitlement to opportunities to access training providers; using information obtained from students EHCPs and the views of families the school will share provider access information which is deemed appropriate.
Monitoring of Practice
Our policy and practice towards careers is reviewed annually by the headteacher and named staff responsible for careers. The school analyses its offer using the Gatsby Benchmarks and from these creates an action plan to continually improve the careers offer. Within the offer we strive to ensuring every student has accessible information and experiences to make an informed decision about their future.