Careers Education
''Careers education is about inspiration and aspirations as mush as advice''
The central aim of Bexleyheath Academy is to provide effective education and training for all of our students. Through a well-structured and highly effective programme of careers education, we believe that all can achieve both in school and in adult life.
Our Careers team at Bexleyheath Academy is:
Dr Francis Lucas, Assistant Principal in charge of Careers & student tuition (flucas@bexleyheathacademy.org)
Ms Irene Shalo, Vice-Principal in charge of Remarkable Experiences (ishalo@bexleyheathacademy.org)
Ms Sarah Jobson, Careers Advisor (sjobson@bexleyheathacademy.org)
Careers Education Plan 2023-24
We recognise that effective career guidance raises aspirations, improves motivation and overcomes barriers to success. The careers programme helps students identify and build experiences, skills and behaviours essential for a successful working future which ever pathway that they decide to choose. We provide students access to differentiated and impartial information and guidance about the range of training options available for post 16 and post 18, as well as insights into up-to-date labour market information and pathways to specific careers.
Our careers education plan for the year can be downloaded here.
BA Unifrog – how to log on
It's never too early to start thinking about your career. That's why all pupils in Years 07-13 have access to the Unifrog platform, designed to support them in making the most informed decisions about their futures. Unifrog has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each pupil has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.
Students access the platform by clicking on a link in their welcome email, where they create a password and can begin using the platform.
They login to Unifrog using their school email address (ending in @bexleyheathacademy.org) and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone.
Work Experience
The principle purpose of work experience is to introduce students to, and broaden their knowledge of, the world of work. At the same time, the emphasis is on developing self-awareness, whilst providing the opportunity to develop skills seen as being most valuable to employers. These include: Communication, problem solving, teamwork, business awareness, use of technology, personal development and self-management. Work experience can be used to ‘test drive’ a possible future career option, but equally it’s the chance to try something new, gain confidence and make useful contacts for the future. We would expect the placement to provide meaningful and purposeful work, involving some observation, learning and carrying out a variety of tasks involving increasing responsibility. Importantly work experience should enable students to gain a clear understanding of expectations in the workplace.
As part of our whole school careers provision, it is a mandatory requirement that all students have the opportunity to have an experience of a workplace in Year 10 and Year 12. This year, the Work Experience programme will take place from Monday, 08 July to Friday, 18 July 2024.
The Work Experience placement for for 2023/2024 can he found here.
Parents/Carers must read the guidance notes for Work Experience here before completing the consent form which has been email to them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does the academy find work experience placements for students?
No. Part of the process of work experience is for students to find opportunities for themselves. Students will receive guidance of how to do this during Term 03 and Term 04. We recommend that students first see what opportunities that they can find with their family and friends.
The academy uses an external provider to then vet the work experience places.
What are the working hours for students?
Students can request with their selected employer to work academy hours only which would be from 08:30 until 15:10. However, this might not work for some employers who might request differing hours to suit their organisation operation times.
We will be able to provide support with speaking to employers should there be issues with working hours as the arise.
Can we be paid for work experience placements?
Students should not expect to be paid for their work experience placement. The employer is spending time to train the student to ensure that they have the skills needed for the role. Employers offer work experience placements voluntarily.
Employers may chose to offer expenses related to travel but this is at their discretion.
Where can we go for a work experience placement?
Students can complete their work experience in almost any organisation but they must meet health and safety requirements.
The employer must have public liability insurance and must have a risk assessment for its employers and work experience placements to ensure that staff and students are safe and well.
Tasks given to students must be appropriate for their age.
Gatsby Benchmark
The Gatsby Benchmark is a framework for schools which helps them to ensure that students develop employability skills. At Bexleyheath Academy, we continuously evaluate our provisions against these benchmarks to ensure that we provide our students the best careers provisions. We have outlined some of our provisions which help us to fulfil each benchmark.
One | A stable careers programme
Students explore different career pathways and job roles in different sectors through their Personal Development lessons.
Two | Learning from careers and labour market information
As part of the Personal Development curriculum, students will explore the advantages and disadvantage of different job roles in the current market.
Three | Addressing the needs of each pupil
Students with SEND or EHCP will have tailored careers support to ensure that they have access to careers/further education which is most suited to achieving their future goals.
Four | Linking curriculum learning to careers
Each subject in their first lesson of the academic year will explore the different career opportunities that their subjects provide.
During options evening students will explore the different educational pathways and careers that each subject can help them achieve.
Five | Encounters with employers and employees
During Careers Friday's, students become aware of different job roles from people in industry and the the educational pathways that were taken to acquire these job roles.
Six | Experience of the workplace
Students complete Work Experience in Year 10 and Year 12.
Seven | Encounter further and higher education
Students will have workshops with university students and students completing apprenticeships that have previously studied at Bexleyheath Academy.
Students in Year 10 and Year 12 will visit a range of universities.
Eight | Personal Guidance
All students receive impartial careers advice from a Careers Advisor.
Labour Market Information
When considering future career options it’s important to have a good understanding of the employment prospects within that industry, ie. is it a growing or declining sector?
Careerometer can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers.
It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as description of the occupation.
Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected.
You can test Careerometer out below:
Useful Links & Resources
UCAS – Further Education – Sixth form, college and apprenticeships
Find an Apprenticeship – Government website for apprenticeships in England
Informed Choices (Russell Group) – Helps you understand which subjects open up different degrees, particularly at Russell Group universities
National Careers Website – Speak to an adviser by calling 0800 100 900
GCSE Choices and University – Tips to pick the right GCSE subjects
BBC Bitesize Careers – Find advice from people who've found the right path for them
Prospects – Look at different job profiles, search by sector or by job title
Do it – Volunteering website for lots of different industries, not just charities