Careers Education
Careers Education is much more than being just about jobs- it’s about preparing for life after school. As a parent, and governor, its wonderful to see the excellent provision at Gordon's is agile, comprehensive and embedded right from year 7.
Careers intent
At Gordon’s School, the intent of the Careers programme is to effectively prepare students from Y7-13 for their next steps. This draws on several strands which are centrally managed by the Careers Lead and the Careers Co- Ordinator.
This is implemented through assemblies on options and pathways for FE and HE, as well as regular curriculum moments in PSHE and subjects for all year groups. In tutor time there is often exposure to employers and employees, giving students a chance to ask meaningful questions regarding a variety of jobs. Furthermore, regular information sharing regarding Labour Market Information is done via career bulletins and tutor time enabling conversation to take place at home and engaging a variety of stakeholders. Numerous themed events, such as Apprenticeship and National Careers weeks, throughout the year offer students further education on the vocational alternatives such as Apprenticeships, Employment and T levels. In addition, Gordon’s annual Careers Fair enables students across all years to engage with both employers and HE institutions.
In Year 10 and Year 12 students undertake Work Experience and also benefit from one to one careers guidance from an independent specialist service provider.
Careers lead
Careers Lead - Mrs Sandra Radford
Careers Governor - Mr D Horton
For queries, please contact Mrs Augusta Kennedy; Careers Administrator: careers@gordons.school
Careers Education, information, advice and guidance overview for governors, parents, teachers and students
years 7-9
Careers education for Years 7-9 is mainly delivered through the PSHE curriculum.
In Year 7 students will be introduced to the world of employment through topics such as assessing their personal strengths, careers, raising aspirations, leadership, and understanding behaviour at work.
In Year 8 there is an exciting competition about working in the NHS with a focus on equality of opportunity - the theme is careers in the NHS and life choices. Students are exposed to job descriptions, adverts and create their own application for the job for which they feel they are best suited. There is an analysis of the skills needed for the job. Students also learn strengths and behaviours required in the workplace.
In Year 9 students will understand career sectors and be exposed to labour market information. They will explore career pathways and important themes such as equality at work.
Some careers' education is undertaken in tutor time when students assess where their subjects can take them.
For every year group there are speakers regularly educating students on apprenticeships, university pathways and employment. Themed events such as Apprenticeship week and National Careers week ensure that students meet with employers and employees in order to have a meaningful exchange. All students receive access to our extensive Careers-Industry Talks, and career assemblies. Careers information is embedded in all subjects' schemes of work. All students attend the Careers Fair with external companies available for meaningful interaction. Labour market information is shared regularly.
years 10-11
Careers education in Year 10 is mainly through PSHE with specific employability modules. In Year 10 they will learn how to write a CV, how to apply for a job with confidence and will also have an opportunity to learn interview skills.
In Year 11 the careers modules continue to be embedded in PSHE and in this year the focus is on self-efficacy, future opportunities, personal leadership and readiness for work.
In both years there are speakers regularly educating students on apprenticeships, university pathways and employment. Themed events such as Apprenticeship week and National Careers week ensure that students meet with employers and employees in order to have a meaningful exchange.
In addition, all Year 10 students receive a one-to-one careers guidance interview with our external careers consultant and all students attend the Careers Fair with external companies available for meaningful interaction. All students in Year 10 and Year 11 have access to our extensive Careers-Industry Talks taking place across specific weeks, as well as our career assemblies. Careers information is embedded in all subjects' schemes of work and labour market information is shared regularly via bulletins.
All Year 10 students also undertake work experience which is designed to develop their employability skills and prepare them for their next steps beyond school.
years 12-13
In Year 12 and Year 13 careers guidance has a focus on Post 18 progression which can take the form of gap year, employment, apprenticeships or university. Most students choose to go to university, although an increasing number successfully secure apprenticeships. To prepare for these pathways there are numerous key events across the two years which engage both parents and students. There are speakers regularly educating students on apprenticeships, university pathways and employment. Themed events such as Apprenticeship week and National Careers week ensure that students meet with employers and employees in order to have a meaningful exchange.
Year 12 students also attend the UCAS fair in addition to the Gordon's School Careers Fair. All students in Year 12 and Year 13 have access to our extensive Careers-Industry Talks taking place across specific weeks , and our career assemblies. Careers information is embedded in all subjects' schemes of work and labour market information is shared regularly.
Careers Calendar 2022-23
| MONTH |
Year 7 |
YEAR 8 | YEAR 9 | YEAR 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 | Year 13 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September |
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Launching GROFAR (1)
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4) |
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
Launching GROFAR (1)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4) |
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
Launching GROFAR (1)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4)
|
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
Launching GROFAR (1,6)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4)
|
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
WEX reflection GROFAR (1,6)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Careers in Sport speaker (3, 4,7)
Y11-13 CV Writing with Siemens Energy (1,3,5)
Y11 Art Ambassadors Workshop (4)
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4)
|
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
Launching GROFAR (1,6)
Careers in Sport speaker (3, 4,7)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Sharing CPD - Young Professionals events - Business, Accounting or Finance, perhaps Engineering or Technology (2, 4,5,6)
Y12&13 Creative Arts Theatre Workshop (4)
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4) |
Careers bulletin - Law (2)
Launching GROFAR (1,6)
Y12&13 Creative Arts Theatre Workshop (4)
Drop in Law cafe- linked to career bulletin
Y11-13 CV Writing with Siemens Energy (1,3,5)
Careers Bulletin: Local FE Open Days (1,3,7)
Careers Bulletin: Careers in Sport (1,3,4) |
|||||
| October |
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1,2,4,7)
Character and Employability (2,4) PSHE
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2) |
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1,2,4,7)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2)
|
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1,2,4,7)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2) |
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1,2,4,7)
Introduction to WEX and FE evening Apprenticeships, TR - levels for parents and students (1,2,3,6,7)
Sixth Form Open Evening (7)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
|
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1,2,4,7)
Sixth Form Open Evening (7)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2) |
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1,2,4,7)
Introduction to WEX evening parent and students (3,6)
WEX workshop & Apprenticeship speaker from Rolls Royce (1,3, 5,6)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2) |
Careers assembly- options post 16; university, apprenticeships and employment (1, 2,4,7)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - WEX with Virtual opportunities (2)
|
|||||
| November |
NHS Careers and Jobs Competitions (2,3,4,5,8) PSHE
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2)
|
Career Insight Talks Artificial Intelligence (3,5)
NHS Careers and Jobs Competitions (2,3,4,5,8) PSHE
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2)
|
Career Insight Talks Artificial Intelligence (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2)
|
Career Insight Talks Artificial Intelligence (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Meducators (1, 2,3,4,5,7)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2)
|
Career Insight Talks Artificial Intelligence (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Meducators (1, 2,3,4,5,7)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2)
(1, 4,5)
|
Career Insight Talks Artificial Intelligence(3,5)
Medicine, Veterinary & Dentistry Evening (4,7)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Meducators (1, 2,3,4,5,7)
WEX tutor time and use of LMI (2,3,4)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2)
|
Career Insight Talks Artificial Intelligence(3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Meducators (1, 2,3,4,5,7)
Careers bulletin - jobs in the army (2) Air products - Green careers week (BM1, BM4, BM5)
(1,4,5)
1-1 Career Interviews BY INVITATION (1, 3,8)
|
|||||
| December |
NHS Careers and Jobs Competitions (2,3,4,5,8) PSHE
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
NHS Careers and Jobs Competitions (2,3,4,5,8) PSHE
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4) |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4) |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
YY10 & Y12 Creative Arts Careers Day (1,2,3, 4,5)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Y10 & Y12 Creative Arts Careers Day (1,2,3, 4,5)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Labour Market Information bulletin (2)
Careers bulletin Creative Arts(1,2,4)
|
|||||
| January |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Careers Assembly (7)
Careers bulletin (2) HSBC banking Apprenticeships and Careers |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
GCSE Open Evening (2,4)
Careers Assembly (7)
Careers bulletin (2) HSBC banking Apprenticeships and Careers |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Careers Assembly(7)
1-1 Career Interviews (3,8)
Careers bulletin (2) HSBC banking Apprenticeships and Careers |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Careers Assembly (7)
Careers bulletin (2) HSBC banking Apprenticeships and Careers |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Careers bulletin (2) HSBC banking Apprenticeships and Careers
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
Careers bulletin (2) HSBC banking Apprenticeships and Careers |
||||||
| February |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies
1-1 Career Interviews (1, 3,8) |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
National Apprenticeship Week Assemblies |
|||||
| March | School Careers Fair (5,7) |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
School Careers Fair (5,7) |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
School Careers Fair (5,7) |
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
School Careers Fair (5,7)
1-1 Career Interviews (3,8)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
School Careers Fair (5,7)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
School Careers Fair (5,7)
|
Career Insight Talks (3,5)
School Careers Fair (5,7)
|
|||||
| April |
|
|||||||||||
| May |
LMI careers bulletin (2)
Winchester Planetarium workplace visit (4,6) |
Careers in ICT Fujitsu insight event (2,4,5)
LMI careers bulletin (2)
Winchester Planetarium workplace visit (4,6)
|
Careers in ICT Fujitsu insight event (2,4,5)
LMI careers bulletin (2)
Winchester Planetarium workplace visit (4,6) |
LMI careers bulletin (2)
Creative Arts Careers Day (3,4,5,7) |
LMI careers bulletin (2)
|
1-1 Career Interviews (3,8)
LMI careers bulletin (2)
Creative Arts Careers Day (3,4,5,7)
Maths Oxford STEM mentoring programme (3,7) |
LMI careers bulletin (2) |
|||||
| June | 1-1 Career Interviews (3,8) |
Post 18 Progression Evening (3,7)
Post Progression Day (3,5,7)
1-1 Career Interviews (3,8) |
||||||||||
| July | Work Experience (6) | Work Experience (6) | ||||||||||
| August | Post Exam Result Support (8) | Post Exam Result Support (8) |
Careers and Work Related Learning
Students at Gordon’s School can expect a wide variety of activities to enhance their Careers and Work Related Education. There are monthly careers talks and careers drop-in, appointments with our independent Careers Adviser, CV workshops, careers fairs and many other activities. Careers education starts in Year 7, and continues until students leave us in Year 13.
To find out which career best suits your personality, free psychological and careers tests are available through 123test.com. Once you've found it, please click on one of the widgets below for Labour Market Information (LMI) on that career.
Skills assessment, careers exploration and finding a course is all available through the Government's National Careers Service. Click on the image below to access:
Students, parents, teachers and employers may also access further information and arrange appointments by contacting the Careers Lead directly.
USEFUL PARENT GUIDES
Key Stage 5
Key Stage 4
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION for governors, teachers, parents and students
Labour Market Information Bulletins can be found here.
CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE POLICIES
Careers bulletins
Further information on careers, together with Gordon's Careers Bulletins can be found here.
Apprenticeships
further reading on apprenticeships
National Apprenticeship Week Webinars
MEASURING AND ACCESSING THE CAREERS PROGRAMME
Gordon's measures and accesses its careers programme against the Gatsby Benchmarks. The impact is measured through student and parent feedback. The programme is conducted in relation to the school's equal opportunities' policy, work experience policy, external visits policy and other relevant policies.
Useful Links for Parents and students
Careers Advice:
Career Pilot (recommended for Key Stage 3)
Post 18 Options (General):
Universities in the Local Area:
Apprenticeships
Work Experience
insight into careers for governors, parents, teachers and students
Summer 2022
Our Virtual Insight into Careers Talks covered a range of interesting careers from a host of fascinating people and can be listened to as a Zoom Webinar or as a pre-recording. Upcoming live webinars can be booked through the Box Office. Recordings of webinars will also be available on this page after the event.
Please click on the pictures below for ringside seats at your leisure!
Apprenticeship Week - Gordonian Tori Andrews talks about her journey after leaving Gordon's aged 16 to join one of the largest accountancy firms in the world as an apprentice. Click on the image below to see her presentation.
The founder of multiple beauty and entertainment agencies, Camilla Collins' true passion is making people look and feel their very best. Now she coaches to individuals and corporations on self-image, self-confidence, and lifestyle. Click on her image below to see her presentation.
Barrister Nutan Fatania specialises in crime and speaks to former Head Boy Oliver Henderson about how she entered the profession and her top tips for those considering law as a career choice.
Autumn Term 2020 - Virtual Insight into Careers Talks
Back to the Future - Further Education and Early Years Career Skills Coach Sarah Dean will help you decide on the best way forward for you after Gordon's, whether it is going to university, starting working or studying for an apprenticeship. Please click on the picture below to hear her talk.
VIRTUAL INSIGHT INTO CAREERS ARCHIVE
Please click on the images below to see their recorded talks.
A Day in the Life of a Premiership Rugby Player
Breakfast with George Nash - Engineering
A Career in the Army
Musician Frank Turner - Black Sheep: Following a Career Path that Everyone Warned you Against
Entrepreneur and Marketing Jarmila Yu - Making Your Linkedin Profile Work for You
Kathryn Watson - Nutritional Therapist
Community/Employer gateway - Can you help?
Can you help to maximise our students’ contribution to the wellbeing of our community by providing them with work experience and/or becoming involved with careers guidance?
We are looking for employers and businesses in every sector, that can engage with our students and impart their skills and knowledge as well as opening their eyes to career opportunities.
There are a number of ways in which you can help our students – many of them taking just one hour of your time periodically (please see below).
| Action | Timing |
|---|---|
| Site Visit – let our students visit your organisation and see how it works | 2-4 hours |
| Interview Techniques – How can our students ‘sell themselves’ at interview to a potential employer? | 1-4 hours |
|
Work Experience – Introduce students in Year 12 (16/17 years old) to working life within your organisation. |
1 week (five days) |
| Careers Fair – Open to all students at Gordon’s and other partnership schools, the annual Careers Fair showcases a multitude of different businesses and professions, HE and apprenticeship providers under one roof | One evening |
|
Lectures/Insight Talks – Become a speaker at one of our bi-weekly lectures or termly Insight Talks which provide a spotlight on various careers |
1 Hour |
| Sponsorship – Opportunities to sponsor various events or by taking out advertising in school publications. Contact development@gordons.school for more information | N/A |
|
Employability skills – What makes a person employable? Help our students to become the workforce of the future through developing their attributes to potential employers |
1 Hour |
| Offer Volunteering Work – All Gordon’s students are expected to complete volunteering hours as part of their DofE and the school’s Character Education. Is your business able to offer this? | N/A |
|
Provide Apprenticeships – Could you provide an apprenticeship scheme to those students wishing to venture into the working world through this route? |
Ongoing |
| Come to our Business Breakfasts (click here for more information and to book). | 2 hours (Monthly) |
If you would like to be involved with the careers programme at Gordon’s or know someone at your workplace who could be of any assistance please complete the form below.
Careers Lead: Ms Sandra Radford - sradford@gordons.school
Link Governor for Careers: Mr Daniel Horton
quality in careers standard Award
The Quality in Careers Standard Award is designed as a development and external assessment framework for accrediting the highest quality CEIAG provision by education providers. Investor in Careers supports educational providers to meet the National Quality in Careers Standard through our unique 3 stage approach which focuses on Commitment, Organisation, Delivery and Evaluation. Our approach to meeting the national Standards supports schools to deliver effective CEIAG, meet statutory and Ofsted inspection requirements and improve their student’s life chances.
For more information about this award, please click here.
Student Entitlement Statement
At Gordon’s you can expect to have:
- Access to information and time to research careers during school
- Talks from people who are in the profession you want to go into
- Useful work experience (including experience in the industry you would want to be in)
- Tests to see what job would suit you best
- No pressure to decide what you want to do
- Information on the job you want to do – hours, salaries, qualifications and skills
The information on the Careers Page is subject to review in July 2023