Careers
Careers
Careers
Farringtons School

Careers

Farrington Futures logoAt Farringtons we are committed to supporting our students in preparing for their future. This is a whole school initiative which seeks to prepare students for life after they leave the school. It is being designed to align with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks below, which have been recognised by the government as outlining the requirements of an excellent careers programme.

  • A stable careers programme
  • Learning from career and labour market information
  • Addressing the needs of each pupil
  • Linking curriculum learning to careers
  • Encounters with employers and employees
  • Experiences of workplaces
  • Encounters with further and higher education
  • Personal guidance

Pupils follow a careers curriculum within their PSHE lessons.

View our university entrants and student destinations for 2023.


Topics covered

In KS3 our pupils will

  • Begin to explore and establish their suitability to careers and understand how the subjects they are studying link to different career pathways.
  • Be taught about what employability skills are and will be given opportunities to develop these both within the curriculum and through extra-curricular activities.
  • Be encouraged to develop career aspirations and will be guided on how their subject choices for GCSEs (and equivalent) could link to these.

In KS4 our pupils will

  • Explore their post-16 options and how their intended choices relate to their; skills, learning style and future career aspirations.
  • Understand the application process and entry requirements for their intended choices post 16.
  • Students will be encouraged to record the experiences and achievements that will help them to stand out on paper and in person.
  • Complete a one-week work experience in Year 10.
  • Receive a careers guidance interview with a qualified careers advisor.

In KS5 our pupils will

  • Explore their post 18 options and develop a deeper understanding of their progression and career preferences.
  • Research and compare options, including university and apprenticeships, and make decisions based on personal suitability and the availability of options.
  • Will be offered a careers guidance interview with a qualified careers advisor.
  • Will complete a one-week work experience placement in Year 12.
  • Prepare applications for their chosen pathway.

Careers Department structure

The Careers Department is an important part of the school and careers education is embedded into the curriculum.  The department is overseen by Deputy Head, Nick Young, and activities with the department are led and managed by the Heads of Careers, Rebecca Miah and Ruth Ashworth.  The governing body also fully supports the careers programme, the governors with specific responsibility for careers are Roli Johnson and Sally Donaldson.

Careers advice

All Year 11 pupils have a face-to-face meeting with a qualified level 7 Careers Advisor and Year 13 are given the option to have meeting.

All pupils also have a Unifrog login where they can explore career options and pathways which best suit their interests and skills.  

The National Careers Service is available 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 10am-5pm on Saturdays, pupils can talk directly to a Careers Advisor via this number 0800 100 900.

Quality in Careers Award Statement of Commitment

Farringtons School pledge our commitment to working towards accreditation of the prestigious Quality in Careers Standard for its Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance programme.

There are a wide range of Careers Education related activities on offer at Farringtons School demonstrating our desire to deliver the best outcomes and support to our pupils.

Careers Policy and CEIAG Entitlement Statement

  • A copy of the Careers Policy can be found here.
  • A link to the Entitlement statement can be found here.

Careers Information for Pupils and Teachers

Students have access to a wide range of resources and useful links, via the Farringtons Futures Team’s Site, as well as via a weekly bulletin which is sent out to their email address.  

Teachers can also access the Site where there is a separate section full of teacher resources which can be used  to support careers' education in lessons.

 

Careers Information for Parents

Ensuring high quality careers education is more important than it has ever been. The number of choices available for; education, training and employment opportunities that students need to navigate is more complex and challenging than that faced by previous generations.

Careers education does not just mean informing students about their options after school but also how their school career will affect their futures. It is our statutory duty to ensure that all pupils receive independent, impartial advice and guidance regarding all options within school and how they will affect their options after school and which careers pathways will become available to them, we have a well-developed Farringtons Futures programme to deliver this. We also aim to help support parents, providing key information so that they in turn can support their children.  Below is a list of sites which contain useful information. Should you need further support please email Rebecca Miah (Head of Careers) with any questions or to arrange a meeting.


Parent Links

Information about employability, careers and enterprise

 https://careers.startprofile.com/page/parents

We subscribe to Start Profile, a comprehensive online Careers Platform.  Pupils can access their accounts with their school accounts.  You can set up your free parent account using the link above.

 https://www.morrisby.com/parents

Pupils in Year 12 complete the full Morrisby Aptitudes Test, generating a report of Careers and Further Study suggestions as well as all the resources needed to explore options further.  Pupils in Year 10 complete the shorter Aspirations Test, which makes Career and Post 16 study suggestions.  Parents can find out more following the link above.

www.springpod.com

Complete virtual work experience and degree tasters with top employers and universities.  You will receive certificates upon completion which you can add to your CV.

https://uptree.co/

Sign up for insight days if in Year 12 and above.  Also, a comprehensive selection of certificated employability courses.

https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/

Several free online courses and resources to support with employability.

https://icould.com/

Free career videos, job information, plus advice on career options and the world of work.

https://barclayslifeskills.com/

Register on the Barclays Life Skills website for support in developing skills for the workplace.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

Information on what to study, exams, planning a career.

https://www.firstcareers.co.uk/

Over 150 job profiles and discover career opportunities, inspiration and advice. First Careers offers guidance to primary and secondary school students in making decisions about future careers and professions.

 

Alternatives to University including Apprenticeships

https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

Find apprenticeships in Not Going to Uni, the online apprenticeships guide that offers you advice on how to become an apprentice, find traineeships, college courses or work experience.

https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/

Information about apprenticeships and jobs as well as careers advice for school leavers.

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/parent-zone/

Amazing Apprenticeships is a leading organisation in the education sector, founded to tackle misconceptions about apprenticeships and promote the benefits.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Search and apply for apprenticeships online.

 

Information about University

www.ucas.com

Find and apply for courses online as well as lots of other information on going to university as well as alternative pathways.

www.informedchoices.ac.uk

What you study at sixth form or college can affect your options at university and your future career. Use Informed Choices to help you understand which subjects open up different degrees, particularly at Russell Group universities.

www.university.which.co.uk

The free & independent way to search & compare UK degree courses & universities from Which? – find the best one for you, with insider tips from unis & students.

www.unitasterdays.com

Search for your next university event. For students and parents looking to book places on events directly. Events listed include university and college taster days, workshops, residentials, open days, outreach events and widening participation opportunities.


Careers Advice

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Looking for that perfect career? We guide millions of students to make the right choice. Match your skills and personality to 400+ job profiles.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

Free information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work.  Talk one to one with a qualified careers advisor on their free to use helpline.

Volunteering opportunities

https://vinspired.com/

vInspired is the UK's leading youth volunteering charity providing 14-25-year olds with volunteering and social action opportunities. Young people become more skilled, confident and employable.

http://timebank.org.uk/

Make a real difference and have a rewarding experience at the same time by volunteering on one of their community projects.

http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/

National Citizen Service (NCS) is an experience you really don't want to miss. If you're 15 to 17 years-old, this is your chance to embark on exhilarating challenges, make your mark and build skills for work and life. More than 275,000 young people have already said YES to NCS. Don't. Miss. Out.

Careers Information for Employers and Access Statement

Employers and Employees: Can you support?

Farringtons School endeavours to build links with local employers, charities, training and apprenticeship providers across a range of industries.  It is our aim to provide our students with encounters with employers/employees and experiences of the workplace, to enable them to gain more of an understanding of the wide range of employment opportunities available within specific industry sectors. We aim to do this by working towards all the Gatsby Benchmarks but specifically:

Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

To ensure that students receive at least one meaningful encounter with an employer during every year they are at school.

Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experiences of the workplace

To ensure that students receive at least one meaningful experience of the workplace by the end of year 11.

To ensure that students receive at least one further meaningful experience of the workplace during year 12.

Can you support?

  • Industry insight or work experience placements
  • Talks and presentations to groups of students
  • Support with interview practice and CV writing

View a copy of our access statement.

If you would like to support, please e-mail Rebecca Miah

Work Experience

At Farringtons School we believe work-related learning gives students the chance to see what a real working environment is like and provides an opportunity to develop employability skills. For some pupils it is also a chance for them to sample a possible future career direction.

Work experience gives our students the opportunity to demonstrate skills that are important in the future. These skills can be transferred to any area of higher or further education or employment and provide evidence of success to other employers and admissions tutors. 

Work Experience is crucial in developing the following skills and attributes:

Employability Skills

  • Communication skills    
  • Working with others
  • Number skills                   
  • Problem solving
  • IT skills                                
  • Improving own learning and performance
  • Practical skills


Personal Attributes

  • Good attendance and punctuality
  • Willingness to undertake tasks
  • Politeness and courtesy              
  • Appropriate appearance
  • An ability to understand and carry out instructions
  • An ability to work independently and to use initiative

Work Experience in 2024

Year 10 and 12 work experience will be taking place 10th - 14th June 2024.

All placements should be arranged vis the Unifrog Work Experience placement tool https://www.unifrog.org/student/placement.  Details on how to use the tool are included on the web address. For any queries regarding work experience, please contact Rebecca Miah for Year 10 and Ruth Ashworth for Year 12.

Unifrog

In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next step after school, we will now be using Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform.

All students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 now have access to this excellent website. All students will have been sent a welcome email with their log on details and can access the site at https://www.unifrog.org/

The Unifrog platform is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.  Key features of the platform include: 

  • Exploring Pathways – personality quizzes, career and subject profiles, MOOCs and webinars 
  • Recording – self-reflection about extracurricular activities and key employability skills 
  • Opportunities – search tools showing live vacancies/courses/placements for apprenticeships, universities (in the UK and abroad), FE, virtual work experience and much more 
  • Applications – tools to help students build applications for a range of pathways (e.g., CVs, Personal Statements, Common App Essays) 

Further Questions

Any further questions relating to careers or work experience can be emailed to: Ruth Ashworth or Rebecca Miah - Joint Head of Careers.

 

Embedding Careers in Subjects

Find out more about how we embed Careers into our curriculum here.

Careers linked to the CDI Framework

Find out more about our Careers Plan here.

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Perry Street
Chislehurst
Kent
BR7 6LR
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