Careers Programme

 

 

Careers Programme Information

Careers at The Deanery CE Academy

Careers Lead: Mr. Ben Hinson
Email: careers@deanerycofeacademy.org.uk

At The Deanery CE Academy, we believe in preparing every student for a successful and fulfilling future. Our vision is to equip all learners with the tools they need to choose pathways that suit their talents and aspirations, manage their careers, and sustain employability throughout their lives.

Our careers programme aligns with this mission by fostering ambition, building confidence, and creating opportunities for students from Year 7 to Year 11.

Our Careers Programme

We provide a comprehensive, age-appropriate programme designed to meet the unique needs of every student, including:

  • Access to Impartial Careers Guidance: Independent advice to help students make informed decisions about their future.
  • Taught Careers Education: Integrated into the ViP curriculum, ensuring students learn practical career skills in the classroom.
  • Targeted Support: Tailored assistance for students with special educational needs, disadvantaged backgrounds, or those who are looked after children.

This programme contributes to raising student achievement by increasing motivation, fostering aspiration, promoting inclusion, and challenging stereotypes. We actively encourage equality and diversity in all aspects of career education.

The Gatsby Benchmarks

As part of our commitment to excellence, we are working towards fully meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks for careers education. These benchmarks represent the gold standard for preparing students for the world of work:

  1. A Stable Careers Programme
  2. Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
  3. Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
  4. Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
  5. Encounters with Employers and Employees
  6. Experiences of Workplaces
  7. Encounters with Further and Higher Education
  8. Personal Guidance

We regularly review our progress towards these benchmarks and adapt our programme to meet the highest standards. For more details, visit the Gatsby Foundation website.

How We Support Students and Families

We understand the importance of parental involvement in shaping a student’s future. That’s why we provide resources and encourage collaboration at every stage of their career journey:

  • Parents can access resources like CareerPilot, a platform offering guidance for ages 11-19.
  • Regular updates are shared through newsletters and letters, keeping families informed about careers-related opportunities.

By working together, we ensure students are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make informed career choices.

Careers Activities at The Deanery CE Academy

Throughout their time with us, students will benefit from a rich and diverse range of career-focused activities, including:

  • Career-Themed Assemblies: Insights into different professions and pathways.
  • Careers Fairs: Access to information about careers, apprenticeships, and further/higher education options.
  • Off-Timetable Days: Special lessons and workshops featuring industry professionals.
  • Personal Guidance Sessions: One-on-one meetings with a Level 6 qualified careers advisor.
  • Mock Interviews: Opportunities to build confidence and hone skills.
  • Sixth Form/College Open Days: Helping students explore post-16 education options.
  • Support with Subject Choices: Guidance in selecting the right options for their future goals.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about our careers programme or would like to learn more about how we can support your child’s aspirations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Careers Lead:

Mr. Ben Hinson
Email: careers@deanerycofeacademy.org.uk

Together, let’s inspire bright futures at The Deanery CE Academy.

Careers Policy

Links to Further Careers Information

Further useful information for students, parents and teachers can be found via the weblinks below:

General Careers Advice

http://www.careerpilot.org.uk – This is a great website giving lots of information about all the different options available for future work and study in the South West.

www.workwiltshire.co.uk – Contains useful local labour market information from Wiltshire Council.

www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk – This has useful tools that will help you to choose a career and give you career suggestions and create a CV. You can also talk to an adviser for free on 0800 100900.

www.icould.com – Handy for exploring different careers by watching films about what it’s like to work in various jobs.

www.sacu-student.com – Matches you to HE courses, careers and apprenticeships.

https://swlep.co.uk/programmes-swlep/careers-hub/careers-explorer - Find out about different careers, opportunities in the local job market and information on courses and apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships

www.apprenticeships.gov.uk – The essential site to research and find apprenticeships.

www.amazingapprenticeships.com – Contains a particularly useful ‘Parents Pack’ and information about employers offering apprenticeships.

www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk – Search here for apprenticeships, traineeships, internships, work experience and jobs.

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – This website has important information on the opportunities available after leaving school – for training, employment, sponsored degrees, etc.

Job Searching

www.reed.co.uk – create a CV and find jobs here.

www.indeed.co.uk – a job search website.

Graduate Careers and University Advice

www.ucas.com – UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. UCAS process more than two million applications for full-time undergraduate courses every year and also help students to find the right course for them.

www.prospects.ac.uk – A website focused on graduate jobs. The UK’s leading provider of information, advice and opportunities to students and graduates. You can search actual graduate vacancies and see what jobs different degree subjects can lead to.

www.ukcoursefinder.com – This site has a subject’s interest questionnaire and provides degree subject suggestions. Really useful if you are not sure what you want to do next.

www.university.which.co.uk – The Which? University guide is packed with information and has filters to help you find the right course. www.bestcourse4me.com – Users can identify A level subjects and see what degrees people usually go on to do – and then look at and what careers people progress on to from different degree courses.

www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide – The Guardian University Guide has information on every subject taught at universities in the UK. It also ranks universities in league tables.

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables – official university league tables.

www.whatuni.com – A useful site for ordering prospectuses and comparing University courses.

www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk – Search for University scholarships, grants and bursaries here.

www.opendays.com – This site gives useful details of university open days.

Gap Years and Volunteering

www.gapyear.com – information and advice about gap years.

www.campamerica.co.uk – job opportunities in America – including temporary and summer jobs.

www.do-it.org.uk – explore volunteering opportunities.

www.volunteering.org.uk – explore volunteering opportunities.

Contact Us

Happy to answer any questions

Address

  • Peglars Way, Wichelstowe, Swindon, SN1 7DA

Telephone Number