Quick Links

Useful Links Open/Close

Valentines High School

Careers & Guidance

At Valentines High School we are committed to providing all our students in Years 7 to 11 with a comprehensive programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance and work-related learning.

We know that good careers education and advice has a significant role in preparing and enabling our students to lead successful, fulfilling lives as well as making a successful transition into adulthood and the world of work. As options for young people become more varied and complex, it is vital that we support students to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices for their future. 

Our careers education, information, advice, and guidance programme:

  • Aims to inspire as well as inform and guide students.
  • Is centred around the student and their individual needs.
  • Is integrated into the students’ experience of the whole curriculum.
  • Encourages all students to consider their career throughout Key Stage 3 and 4.
  • Encourages all students to develop decision making skills.
  • Provides each student with high quality, impartial advice.
  • Raises aspirations and promotes equality and diversity.

Careers Leader Details for Years 7-11

 

 

Career Leader name:

 Ellen Scott

 

 

Career Leader email:

 esc@valentines-sch.org.uk

 

 

Career Leader contact:

 020 8554 3608

 Career Leader Details for Sixth Form

 

 

Career Leader name:

 Abbey Ranger

 

 

Career Leader email:

arn@valentines-sch.org.uk

 

 

Career Leader contact:

 020 8554 3608

 Senior Leader associated with Careers

 

 

Senior leader associated with careers:

 Emily Danvers

 

 

Senior leader associated with careers email:

edn@valentines-sch.org.uk

 

 

Senior leader associated with careers contact:

 020 8554 3608

 The Gatsby Benchmarks

In 2013, The Gatsby Foundation commissioned Sir John Holman to research what pragmatic actions could improve career guidance in England.  

 

Benchmarks

Summary

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, governors and employers.

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 best use of available information. 

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 quality and diversity considerations throughout. 

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 future career paths. 

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. 

6. Experience of workplaces

Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks. 

7. Encounters with further and higher education

All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. 

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. 

For further reading follow the link below: 

Gatsby_career_2014

Labour Market Information

Labour Market Information (LMI) serves as a valuable resource for researching future job prospects, understanding required skills, and gauging employment demand. At Valentines High school, we provide access to up-to-date LMI through the Start Profile platform.
LMI for all link https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/

Information for Parents

At Valentines, we're dedicated to supporting individual student’s needs, and we value the involvement of parents and carers in the careers curriculum. 

We keep parents and carers informed through emails from the Careers Leader, providing updates on upcoming events and activities.

We work closely with The Local London Career Hub East, who work with the school to develop the careers programme and support the Gatsby benchmarks.  The hub aims to connect schools with training providers, local employers and provide up to date information about pathways.

The school provides guidance on employment options, work experience in Years 10 and 12, college courses (including Functional skills and vocational courses), training courses, inclusive apprenticeships/traineeships, volunteering opportunities, and future aspirations.

We value your insights and aim to equip you with the tools to support your child's career exploration.  Parental engagement in a schools career programme is key for students success, if you would like to be involved, support or share your feedback, please contact the careers leader: Ellen Scott, esc@valentines-sch.org.uk

Equality and Diversity within the Programme

CEIAG is provided to all students and provision is made to allow all students to access the Careers curriculum. Students are encouraged to follow career pathways that suit their interests, skills and strengths with the absence of stereotypes. All students are provided with the opportunities that reflect their needs to find a suitable career progression pathway.

Where to go if you want more information:

Access to Work is money from the Government to cover any extra costs of employing a disabled employee.

The Princes Trust has looked at the business benefits of working with schools.

The Government has written guidance for employers employing disabled people and people with health conditions.

Employing autistic people- a guide for employers How to support young people with autism.

Useful links:

The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Schools and The SEND Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit provides a helpful insight into ideas and strategies for linking curriculum learning to careers:

1041_gatsby_toolkit_for_schools_final.pdf (careersandenterprise.co.uk)

1051_SEND Gatsby Toolkit_Updates 2021_V4.pdf (careersandenterprise.co.uk)

The Careers and Enterprise Company provide school staff with a range of resources to link curriculum learning to careers:

Gatsby Benchmark 4 | CEC Resource Directory (careersandenterprise.co.uk)

Inspiring The Future is an online platform that allows school staff to arrange inspirational volunteers to assist in bringing lesson content to life by linking it to careers:

 Secondary Schools and Colleges - Inspiring The Future

STEM Ambassadors aim to support schools with STEM talks/workshops:

STEM Ambassadors for post-16

Speakers for schools is a charity offering free resources that can help students with their career pathway:

Transform Your Future with SFS: Exclusive Student Opportunities (speakersforschools.org)

 Post 16 and Post 18 Pathways

Options

Description & Useful Links

College/Sixth Form

Colleges - Natspec-Natspec’s member colleges offer education to young people aged 16-25 with learning difficulties and / or disabilities

https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses - information for education, employment or training after leaving secondary school (post-16)

https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund - 16 to 19 Bursary Fund – those with an EHCP can access this grant

http://www.londoncolleges.com/our-colleges/ - colleges in London for post-16 provision

https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/subjects - brand new 2-year qualifications as an alternative to A-Levels, other post-16 options or an apprenticeship - combining classroom learning and industry placement

 

Apprenticeships

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk – lists all apprenticeship vacancies nationally.

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – advice on apprenticeships, foundation degrees, jobs + gap year.

https://amazingapprenticeships.com - information related to apprenticeships

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk - information related to apprenticeships

 

Supported Internships

 Internships Work: All Tools & Resources - NDTi- Supported internships and support for SEND young people.

 Mencap Training Academy | Mencap- Supported internships and employment support programmes.

Our Programme - DFN Project Search- Provider of supported internships across London.

Supported internships by Borough:

 

University 

www.purepotential.org - independent organisation which raises the aspirations of thousands of sixth-formers every year, encouraging them to apply to and achieve offers from excellent universities and leading employers.

www.ucas.com – directory of all higher education courses available in the UK and loads of other useful information post-18.

www.unistats.com –compare and review universities and courses using statistics.

www.whatuni.com – student articles, advice, information, open days and university comparisons.

www.unionview.com – videos of universities showing the buildings, accommodation, students and clips of actual teaching methods.

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk , www.education.guardian.co.uk and www.timesonline.co.uk/education – league tables to compare universities and subjects.

What we do - Aimhigher (aimhigherlondon.org.uk)- Supporting young disabled people in higher education.

Transition Programmes

Preparation for adulthood | TreeHouse School-Preparation for adulthood

Pathways to Adulthood homepage- NDTi supporting SEND adults into independence.

 

For further reading follow the link below: 

Options with an Education Health and Care plan | National Careers Service

The local authorities and council can also offer support and guidance with what offers are available in the local borough.

Careers Guidance

Statutory guidance for governing bodies, school leaders and school staff Schools should secure access to face-to-face careers guidance where it is the most suitable support for young people to make successful transitions. While most young people can benefit from face-to-face guidance, it is likely to be particularly useful for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, those who are at risk of disengaging or those who have special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities.

Personal guidance describes the one-to-one interactions which take place between a careers adviser and a young person. Within Benchmark 8 of the Gatsby report there is a requirement for schools and colleges to provide young people with access to personal guidance. This should be with a careers adviser who should be trained to a minimum of level 6. 

Useful Links:

Using the Gatsby Benchmarks for students with SEND (goodcareerguidance.org.uk)

Independent review of careers guidance in specialist settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Getting young voices heard - Coram Voice

Disability Rights UK | We are Disabled people working for an inclusive society

Council for Disabled Children

Useful Links

Parents Advice for Career Conversations - Talking Futures

Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ - offer free and impartial information, advice and guidance to help you with your decisions about careers, courses and work.

https://icould.com/explore/#careerpaths – focusing on career pathways available after leaving secondary school (post-16)

www.brightknowledge.org – information about career pathways and subject specific careers (e.g. sport science, architecture, law etc.)

https://www.careersbox.co.uk/ - videos on career pathways

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work - publicly funded employment support programme that aims to support people with additional needs to start or stay in work

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ - careers advice related to post-16 career choices

www.suttontrust.com – summer schools to encourage widening participation in universities.

www.headstartcourses.org.uk – courses for any science and maths students to encourage them to consider science, maths or engineering at university.

www.hotrecruit.co.uk - Work experience

www.etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry- Work experience

www.work-experience.org.uk- Work experience

www.summerjobs4students.co.uk- Work experience

Current Programmes - Sculpt (sculptuk.org)

Education, Skills and Work | Mencap

Home | Disability charity Scope UK-Scope UK - charity works with disabled people and their families and offers employment support programmes.

Employment (autism.org.uk) -National Autistic Society 

Seeking work-autistic adults (autism.org.uk)

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work-GOV.UK- governmental support with access to work for people with disability or health condition

Ambitious about Autism - work experience& employment-Ambitious about Autism – charity focus on supporting people with autism & their families.

 https://www.littlegate.org.uk/-Little Gate – charity helping young people with learning disabilities & autism into paid work.

https://www.thecdi.net/resources- https://www.thecdi.net/resources

Contact us

Do you have a question about our careers programme? Or would you like to support us?

Please contact Ellen Scott, esc@valentines-sch.org.uk

Provider Access Legislation

Name of School: Provider Access Policy Statement

(To include The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause” and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023)

Ownership:  Valentines High School

Date updated: October 2024

Rationale

High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.

As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment

The Valentines High School is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.  The Valentines High School is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.

The Valentines High School endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims:

The Valentines High School policy for Access to other education and training providers has the following aims:

To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.

To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.

To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment, or training).

Student Entitlement

The Valentines High School fully supports the statutory requirement for students to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships.  The school will comply with the new legal requirement to put on at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. This will be done in assemblies in National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week, in addition to providers attending careers events at school.

Development

This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader Ellen Scott, and Line Manager Emily Danvers based on current good practice guidelines by the Department for Education.

Links with other policies

It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.

Equality and Diversity

Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. The Valentines High School is committed to encouraging all students to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.

Requests for access

Requests for access should be directed to Ellen Scott, Careers Leader. Ellen Scott may be contacted by telephone or email, esc@valentines-sch.org.uk Tel . 020 8554 3608

Grounds for granting requests for access

Access will be given for providers to attend during school assemblies, timetabled Careers or Life lessons, and Careers or Raising Aspirations events that Valentines High School is arranging. Students may also travel to visit another provider as part of the trip to be organised in partnership with Valentines High School.

Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

The Valentines High School will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall to be agreed. All rooms have computers, projectors and screens provided. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Careers Leader or Careers Adviser will organise this, working closely with the provider to ensure the facilities are appropriate to the audience.  Appropriate safeguarding checks will be carried out.  Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team who will facilitate.

Live/Virtual encounters

The Valentines High School will consider live online encounters with providers where requested, and these may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks in advance will be required to ensure compatibility of systems.

Parents and Carers

Parental involvement is encouraged, and parents may be invited to attend the events to meet the providers.

Management

The Careers Leader coordinates all provider requests and is responsible to his/her senior management line manager.

 Careers Learning Journey for KS3-KS4

careers learning journey.pdf