Careers
The academy believes that every individual should be prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life, and that this preparation should be an important and distinctive element of the curriculum.
The academy will ensure that each student’s curriculum is broad and balanced to meet career aspirations as they develop, and that there will be equality of access to all teaching and learning strategies irrespective of gender, race, creed and ability. This will be achieved through consultation with the Academy Council, teachers, students, parents/ carers, and the statutory independent and impartial careers advice commissioned by the academy
There is a comprehensive careers programme throughout the academy, beginning in Year 7 and going through to Year 13. Work experience is undertaken by Years 10 and 12 and support is given to our students in their post-16 applications. Students follow a Careers Education & Guidance course as part of the PSHE curriculum. All students in Year 11 have access to our independent Careers Adviser for a guidance meeting and will receive a personalised action plan. All other year groups can make a self-referral if they wish to speak to the adviser. Lunchtime drop-in sessions are also available.
In October 2022 the academy joined the Greater Essex Career Hub (part of the Careers & Enterprise Company's national network of careers hubs) which will further increase our employer engagement and links to careers activity providers.
Careers Education and Guidance Policy
Overview of Careers Critical Activities/Events
Labour Market Information for Essex
Amazing Apprenticeships - Information & Guidance for Parents
We measure and regularly evaluate ourselves and our Careers provision against the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks:
Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme ▪ Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by Students, parents, teachers and employers.
Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information ▪ Every Student and their parents should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Student ▪ Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each Student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers ▪ All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of careers paths.
Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees ▪ Every Student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces ▪ Every Student should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing, and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.
Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education ▪ All Students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance • Every Student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all Students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.
Work Related Learning and Preparation for the World of Work
Throughout their time at Greensward, students are given an understanding of industry in its wider sense, learning how companies are structured and function. They are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of occupations via personal contacts with industry representatives; visits to various work places; Industry Day, work experience in Years 10 and 12 and the Insight into Leadership event in Year 12.
Greensward Academy has established a number of strong links with a number of companies, both local and national and these include the British Transport Police, Essex Fire & Rescue, Anglian Water, Southend University Hospital, IPECO, The British Army and South Essex College.
Careers information published on the website is regularly updated with annual reviews by the end of the Autumn half term. The academy regularly measures and assesses the impact of Careers through:
surveys, questionnaires and feedback from a range of stakeholders
The Medicspot Innovation Grant awards £500 to UK students going on to study a degree related to health, medicine, nursing or life sciences. Applications must be submitted online by 31 January each year. More information: www.medicspot.co.uk/grant